Document p2exbO6KRxgpjDRmdrZjgx3O7

OSHA, NIOSH study brain-tumor deaths at Union Carbide facility Following the discovery that 10 em ployees at Union Carbide's Texas City, Tex. plant had died of brain tumors, the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis tration and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health are conducting an epidemiological study of 8,000-10,000 present and former workers at the plant. The investigation resulted from a worker's complaint last November, alleging an abnormal incidence of brain tumors among personnel in the company's chemical-shipping area. OSHA inspectors visited the plant on Dec. 13, 1978, and Jan. 8, 1979, and reported last week that examination of Carbide's medical records revealed 11 brain-tumor cases, including 10 deaths. Nine of the workers had died of a form of cancer called glioblastoma multiform; the living worker is believed to have glioblasto ma. The other employee died from meningio ma, another type of brain tumor. According to J3SHA Administrator Eula Bingham, 'The total number of brain tumors so far would appear to be higher than expected for a plant popula tion this size." At the start of the investi gation, which is expected to take about a year, vinyl chloride monomer is the lead ing suspect. While VCM is most common ly associated with angiosarcoma, a form of liver cancer, several studies have linked it to glioblastoma. Sanford Leffingwell, a NIOSH medical officer who is heading the epidemiological study, cites a 1976 study by Richard Waxweiler published by the New York Academy of Sciences, and a later study by Italian researcher Cesar* Maltoni that showed an incidence ol another type of brain tumor in rata exposed to VCM. A study supported by the MCA also recognized an incidence of glioblastoma among the worker* exposed to VCM in its sample. Carbide says that the affected workers were exposed to VCM In 1950-1963, but evidence at this point is far from conclu sive. Leffingwell says that other chemicals in use at the plant, including ethylene oxide and acrylonitrile, are possible causes of brain tumors and will be examined. It is also possible, he points out, that the number of glioblastomas could turn out not to be excessive for a plant with approx imately 2.000 employees. In the period since 1941, there have been 435 known deaths of Carbide employees at Texas City, although all 10 in which brain tumors were listed as the cause occurred 32 Chemical Weefc/Ftbruery 29,1979 in the years between 1962 and 1978. Shock Waves; Even the tentative link to VCM has sent tremors through the vinyl industry. On February 13, Union Carbide plant manager Damon L. Engle sent a letter to employees at Texas City appris ing them of the brain-cancer cases. A similar letter was given to employees at Carbide's S. Charleston, W.Va., facility, and other VCM manufacturers were informed of the findings at Carbide. A Dow Chemical statement cautions against hasty correlation of the deaths with VCM. Dow says that mortality studies conducted recently at Freeport, Tex., and last year at its Plaquemine, La.. VCM facilities failed "to show any indication of a similar situa tion. Both studies showed no deaths from brain tumors among VCM workers." The joint OSHA-NIOSH investigation team is gathering data. As a result of findings to date, OSHA is also investigat ing a "compliance complaint" at Monsan to's operations in Texas City and says that it is possible that other plants will also be checked, though none has been identified. Davis Layne. area director of OSHA's Houston office says "We are just begin ning to turn the leaves, and it all depends on what turns up." Stauffer's board OK's 2-for-1 stock split Stauffer Chemical's board last week approved a two-for-one stock-split propos al that they will present to shareholders on April 18 for final approval. The move is the latest in a string of stock-split propos als by such chemical companies as Du Pont, Mobil Corp., SmithKline, and CarInk Corp.. (CW. Feb. 14. p. 10). H. Barclay Morley, Stauffer's chair man, said the proposed split would help bring the stock price, which was around $40/share last week, down to a level that would be more attractive and affordable to investors. The proposal calls for boosting Stauf fer's authorization for shares to 70 million from the present 30 million. Right now there are about 21.9 million shares outstanding, and the largest shareholder among the board of directors. Christian de Dampierre, owns fewer than 2%. The board also said that, if the share holders approve the proposal, the board will consider boosting the second-quarter dividend by 10%, to 27.5p/share after the split. The move would be in line with the company's policy of raising dividends to offset the effects of inflation. Stauffer has split its stock two for one twice in the past--in April 1957 and in May, 1976. Syntex nears naproxen lawsuit settlements Pharmaceutical producer Syntex Corp. agreed last week to settle out of court all pending lawsuits with Syntex shareholders and Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories (1BT) connected with IBT's alleged defi ciencies in testing Syntex's anti-arthritic drug, naproxen. The agreement requires the companies to set up a $2.75-miliion settlement fund, of which SI.8 million would come from IBT, 5575,000 from Syntex, and $375,000 from Syntex's insurance company. In exchange, the lawsuits would be dropped. The arrangement is still subject to court approval. The settlement fund benefits classaction lawsuit plaintiffs, whose suits, filed in 1976 and later consolidated in federal court in New York, alleged that IBT was deficient in performing and reporting on a rat study of Syntex's Naprosyn naproxen. The suits also charged that Syntex knew or should have known about the alleged deficiencies, and that the prices of Syntex's securities were artificially in flated because of allegedly fraudulent representations and omissions stemming from the company's statements about naproxen. In addition, on Oct. 15, 1976, the Food and Drug Administration pro posed withdrawing its approval of naprox en's new drug application on the grounds of the alleged deficiencies in the rat study by IBT for Syntex. Syntex says it is agreeing on the settle ment to avoid the "expenses of a lengthy trial, which would require our scientists and executives to waste months in court rooms thousands of miles away." But the company admits no wrongdoing in the case, and, in earlier answers to the suits, denied all allegations of improper conduct. As of July 31, 1978, Syntex's worldwide sales of naproxen totaled 587 million for the fiscal year. The non-hormonal anti inflammatory drug, marketed in about 48 countries, is a major product in Syntex's human pharmaceuticals business. Nalco Chemical, IBT's parent compa ny, notes that, as part of the settlement, Syntex agreed to dismiss a suit the drugmaker filed against IBT in Chicago, once the settlement of the suits in New York is approved. And IBT's Sl.S-inillion pay ment under the settlement terms, Nalco says, will be charged against the reserve for discontinued operations set up by Nalco in 1978. Syntex, meanwhile, says it has repeated the study of naproxen in question, and submitted it to FDA in late 1978, but so far has had no response from FDA. ucc 022114 t V Son Juimio l>jy, Frida) April 2a. Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, Independence Day. Wednesday, July 4. Labor Day, Monday, Sepl. 3; Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. II, Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 22. Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec 25and New Vear'a Day, Tuesday, Jan. I, M2. Courthouse to ba closed Monday The Brazoria County Courthouse will he closed Monday, in observance of George Washington's Birthday. The holiday, historically observed on Feb. 22, was one of several shifted to a Monday to allow public employees a long weekend bohday. U Teenoga Association to mstl The Lake Jackson Teenage Association will hold it's first general meeting of the year in the Roberta Elementary School Cafetonum at T: 30 p.m. on Fab. 23 The schedule for die coming year is to be an nounced and new officerswill be introduced. The meeting is open to the public. hifrvmMl Society to moof The Brszoa Section of the Instrument Society d America will meet Thursday at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Highway 25, Angfeteu. A social hour is set to begin al 1:30 p. m. with the meeting tofollow at 7:10 pm. David Novak of United Controls will addresa tbo tpoupon "Pre-Packaged Analyzer Systems." SEEN AND HEARD RICHARD McLEKKAN of Chile making the dean's list al Baylor University for the Fall semester VIOI.A BRANDON PITTS, now at the Lake Jackson Nursing Home after living in the Freeport area since 1W. She'd like to hmr from all her friends V --------------------------------------------------- -------- Dow finds Speaking tor live lira! Ume about Ihe Brazoria County Grand Jury's decision to no hill the council (or allegedly violating (he Texas Open Meetings Law, Rollwage said Friday afternoon, "Certainly I am gratified by the grand Jury oils* of the April T city elec tion, he added, "'My hope la that Ihe discouragement of these events will not pawn! good candidates Iran seeking public oflice. "A toad result could be that an dozen* of Lake Marat tu tbetr govern, mant aad wit carefully A A Cl.. 1.1 .11, Hit- city manager; and Joyce . to this. Schumann, Ihe only council member not "The against accusations the council arrested and charged with members have done violaling the law, the < nothing but damage. grand jury decided not la Further, Ihe accusation!' indict the councUmtn. have been a tremendous i burden to the council Kollwage said about Ihe ^ members and their decision, "1 regret that the i families and have liamhearing was not in public. ' pered their productivity in "The five council 1 lag areas of their lives. '' members asked for aa examining trial in public a Rollwage also added two months ago and asked jlhat he could not say now that subpoenaL be issued 'what effect the grand Jury for Bill Billingsley. A. A. decision would have on the MacLean and Joyce five ft ,5 million libel suits Schumann so (heir filed against Billingsley by testimony under oath Rollwage, Cart Dodson, might be made public. 1 Bill Frizzell, Rex Colvin "Now the grand jury has Land George Gobities, the heard their testimony in I'five council members I (Uf **. u-w a w Mlitrtoldl Have you stopped your cur to allow - ihe association after they have beeq% fa child to cross the street recently? ' seen displaying courtesy or helping i/ iOr perhaca helped someone push a . .someone in distress on the read. J, [stalled vehicle to the side of the road /8 If one of the persons whose llcensevu .era gas station?............. i{|Tpiaie number Is listed above calh in. 1 Then check these license plate he wins (50 If lwo call In, the prize is ** nbers. You could win (50 v The numbers are JVS . MESWJS, fit*. For three, Ihe prize is (15.11 each, and four, (12.55. ' Z'QYH427, and mail truck number 2052 .. If your kcense plate dumber is ana i (nplate number). of ihe above call the Peace Officers'. i This It all pari of ,the Brazoria Associations! 233-4MI and 21)4451 'A' j. County Police Officers' Association's If yuu see someone you would bke'wf ^Partners in Safety program. to recommend fur a prize, write Ihe ft & Tbo program is designed to award hcetue plate number down, along " 4person* for courtesy exhibited while , with Ihe location, whal the driver Old, . V (Wring. t. Members of area police depart- menu, peace officers associations, or (he public can nommate someone for and the tinye It happened. * It Ihe one you lurn in wins, you wtl * receive an identical prize. |l- Maii your recommendation lo ,:< Stbq prize. The object I* to turn yraamftBch*fPi*if, agmbgr into B c P.O.A. Safely, Bag' (15*. ip Angletoa. 77511. ' s' ACTION RLH) BY U COUNCILMAN Publisher says suit 'abridgement of freedom' LAKE JACKSON - AUonugre for Brazoriaa Newe publieher Bill Bilhngsley, his wife, and (he newspaper have filed an official answer denying ihe allegations contained in a damage suit (tied against them Jam 17 by Lake Jackson City Councilman George Gabrites. The answer, filed Ibis week with the Brazoria County District Clerk's office, dies ihe suit as an abridgement of freedom of , Jackson officials for Ihe press. ' alleged violation of the Gabrites alleged that be , Open MeetingsLaw. was falsely accused of All five -- Mayor Bill breaking the laws of the Rollwage and Couocilmen state and that Billingsley Bill Frizzell, Rex Colvin, caused Ihoee negations to Bill Dodson, and Gahriles be published in the -- were officially no-tolled Brazorian News, other by the Brazoria County newspapers, and to be Grand Jury Feb.7. broadcast on television Councilwoman Joyce and rathe. Schumann, who was never Gabrites' suit was filed charged, also was no- after Billingsley brought tolled by Ihe grand Jury on charges against Gabrites Feb. 7. and (our other Lake Charges were filed against the five Lake Jackson officials Dec. 7 by Billingsley. The charges were initially dropped by Justice of the Peace Harold Ammons on Ihe recommendation of thenDistrict Attorney Ogden Boss Doyle Neighbours, who was appointed Bass' successor, agreed to present the case to Ihe grand jury early in January. Billingsley's answer, filed Feb 12, notes (hat when he learned lhal Gahriles had not attended the council meeting in question, he immediately agreed the charge against Gahriles be dropped. Billingsley's general denial contends lhal his articles were written in good faith and related to matters lhal were affairs of public interest and concern. Also, the court .documents say that Ihe articles were a sub stantially true, fair and impartial account of an official proceeding in a court of justice and con stituted fair comment or criticism on matters of public interest Billingsley's attorneys contend lhal any damages would be improper because they would he a deterrent and restraint to Ihe publication of news in violation of Ihe First and iPteaseturntoP.S.Col. li no link of vinyl chloride to tumors The Dow Chemical Company, in a statement released Friday, has concluded that its own aad outside studios show no correlation between brain tumors and exposure to vinyl chloride, which is manufactured at Dow's Total Division in Freeport. "What we know about the health of Dow workers exposed to vinyl chloride enables us to conclude that such brain tumors ire not s problem in our work force,'1 the statement said t The Houston Post, in a copyright story released Friday, said federal health authorities had confirmed that an unusually high number of workers at Union Carbide's Texas City plant died of a type of brain tumor that has been linked to the cancer-causing agent vinyl chloride Vinyl chloride was once manufactured end is now processeda I the large chemical andplastics plant The newspaper said it had learned that nine em ployees of the Texas City plant died between UM2 and 1975 of a brain tumor known as glioblastoma multiform. A top Labor Department official was quoted as saying (hat scientists associate vinyl chloride with the tumor. "What we know about the health of Dow workers exposed to vinyl chloride enables us to conclude lhal such brain tumors are not a problem in our work force," the statement says "Also, epidemiological stddies on large worker papulations In the United States and Great Britain show no corretotiao between such brain tumors and vinyl chloride exposure '' Dow said a worker complaint in November 1974 prompted a jant study by the Occupotknal Safely and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The study revealed lhal Ihe nine deaths caused try the tumor would "appear to be higher than expected" at that particular plant. About 45S death certificates from 1942 to Itn have been examined lodate A tenth worker who is still living has been diagnosed ss probably having Ihe same form oi tumur The Peat said health records of current and former Texas City plant workers -- 5,000 to 10)000 people -- are being reconatrucled for study by Ihe OSHA-NIOSH scientists. It said the records, which company officials describe ss "sketchy," and "difficult to piece together," go hack to mi. ine Dow Statement says, "From our reading o! the Team City situation, it is loo early to conclude that the cases of brain tumors were caused by vinyl chloride monomer. We do not mean to downplay the seriousness ot current investigations, but we (Mutton against jum ping to conclusions a* to the cause of thedeaths." Dow employees involved with vinyl chloride have been notified of thesitualton, the statement said A similar mortality study among Dow vinyl workers at Freeport did not show any indication of a similar situation, the statement sa id, adding that a similar study on Dow workers at Plaquemiae readied the same conclusion. In 1975, another Dow mortality study, focused on 554 workers exposed to vinyl chloride in Midland. Mich. identified two brain cancer deaths, hut the statement says these were not believed related la vinyl chloride exposures. Texas City's Union Carbide Plant Manager Damon Engle was quoted Thursday as saying the cwnpany doesn't Hank there is a crisis that pose* immediate exposure hazards (oemployees. "Practically all of the affected employees worked for substantial periods uf lime (rom the lmd-411* through ij* present in a period in which neither the government or the company had any reason to suspect vinyl chloride " Engle told the Post Engle said the company was not ready to vinyl chloride is responsible for Ihe deaths. "Wedu think lhal if vinyl chlorideshould ultimately be implicated that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and (he industry should lake credit for recognizing hazards at this stage," Englesaid Ttf-C. P-fic.fS (ci-DTe^TvJ) 'v It-iM