Document p2EXV2JEKNYqqg4671YbqMrDk

September 25 -1980 As Mayor of the Town of Bancroft I frequently talk> with W. Stuart, Calwell, the Town's Attorney. This, afternoonin a conversation with .him, he asked me how long I had been with Monsanto, and how long a member of supervision. It was. when he began asking specific questions about 2,4,5-T, paraamino. biphenyl) and Sopanox, that I became suspicious, and asked him if I was being "pumped".for information that mayu be used against my employer. He iaughed and said he was "just curious". I told him that I felt' his interest some~ what beyond the bounds of normal, curiousityr and. I. resented, being put in the position of a. witness', even if only in a n incidental conversation. Mr. Calwell. asked specifically about the dioxin.that;f?-i shows up in miniscule amounts in 2,4,5-T. I told* him^that|;ifetE is a dangerous substance but its level could, be kept;,in t p l r # able bounds with sufficient process control. The- Seveso~irici-^: dent discharged a dioxin-rich substance apparently caused-by?" , a loss of temperature control. .The unusual incidents are the^ ones that, people remember. I also told him that: there seems to me to be an element of individual^susceptibility in connec tion to contact with this: dioxin. Spme people who have worked, in the manufacture of 2,4,5-T are badly affected while, others are not. This product was discontinued by Monsanto>some time: ago.* I told Mr. Calwell* that' I was involved in the analysis of this product, and that one of the procedures in the labora tory involved concentration of the dioxin to a level where1 it could be detected. I seem to have suffered no ill effects from it, and while this is no proof that it is harmless, should in dicate thatv.personal awareness of hazards connected with any chemical substance goes far in preventing injury. Regarding FAB, I did not work at the Nitro plant when, it wasmanufactured. I do know that. Monsanto ceased produc tion immediately there was a n awareness of the effects of it. People?.;who. contracted the problems caused by PAB are not for gotten^ It was not .known beforehand what the substance could do to a person, but once known I feel Monsanto acted responsibly. He asked me why people who worked in Sopanox manufacture were provided with lemonade. Was it to flugh the kidneys? I told him that I didn't know. The stuff caused violent sneezing. In any case, this is a product that hasm.'t been made at Nitro for many years. C1488S SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER, / Mr. Calwell was told that if he wanted any information he should/contact the Nitro Plant Manager's office or Monsanto Headquarters,in St. Louis. He would not tell me why he was aaking^the; questions , but it is-probable that an employee or: formerfemployee has retained Mr. Calwell for some action against the Company. Gilbert D. Bayless Maintenance ?.L.S. CONFIDENTIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. 014889