Document pBRZggLdYY3p4Y2yMZg0y2Jp7

March 7, 1991 Dow U.S.A, The Dow Chemical Company P.O, Box 150 Piaquemine, Louisiana 70765-0150 Mike Brown, Solvents/EDC 1, b-1601 Tim Gunn, Solvents/EDC I, B-1601 Ronnie Hotard, Solvents/EDC I, B-1601 Attached is a copy of the final medical surveillance report prepared for this year's Health Team Review. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know. This is an expanded version of the information that was presented at the' Health Team Review and has been prepared to be submitted to the O.S. Area Occupational Health Department. M. F. Currier, M.D. Health Services Department LOUISIANA DIVISION mab Attachment Health Services Departm nt LOUISIANA DIVISION DO 078378 CONFTDFNTTA1. SOLVENTS/EDC I HEALTH TEAM REVIEW MEDICAL DATA Plant: IH Number: Period Reviewed: Date of Review: Reviewed by: Solvents/EDC I 0161 1990 February 27, 1991 M. F. Currier, M. D. G. D. Kusch, M. D. . Background Information: The primary products of the Solvents/EDC Plant are carbon tetrachloride, perchlorethylene, and ethylene dichloride (EDC). On the Solvents side of the plant, multiple hydrocarbon feedstocks containing three or fewer carbons are reacted with chlorine. A series of distillations are used to separate the perchlorethylene and carbon tetrachloride which are then filtered and sent to storage tanks. In ^addition to these primary products, hydrogen chloride is produced and is either sent to the Vinyl II plant for use in making EDC or made into hydrochloric acid in the Solvents plant. On the EDC side of the plant, EDC is produced utilizing chlorine and ethylene. By-products are utilized as raw materials in the Solvents plant. The EDC is either sent to the Vinyl II plant to be used for making vinyl chloride monomer or it is sent to storage tanks. Multiple chlorinated hydrocarbons are created as by-products of these processes including hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and various chlorinated ethanes. Workers in the Solvents/EDC I plant undergo audiograms, blood chemistries, and HCB blood levels yearly. They have periodic core exams every two years. 1990 was a year in which only the audiograms, chemistries and HCB's were performed. gdk 2/91 1 Hazards__ Review: Review of the CPAI shows a large number of TSCA 8(d) chemicals are present in the plant (see accompanying list). No chemical present in the plant carries a priority rating of 1 or 2. The primary health concern related to potential exposures in this plant is hepatotoxicity. HCB levels have been followed in workers for many years and have been declining progressively. These falling levels reflect the significant engineering and housekeeping changes which have taken place in the plant to reduce exposures. Applicable Dow Medical Surveillance Requirements (MSR's) are Hexachlorobenzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Perchlorethylene, 1,1,1Trichloroethane. Ethylene Dichloride, and Noise. In addition to Medical Surveillance, extensive Industrial Hygiene monitoring takes place in the plant on a regular basis. Health Surveillance Statistics: Dow: Eligible: Participating; Males: Females: ractors: Eligible: Participating: 60 58 97% 55 3 39 38 97% Dow Employees: Review of the medical surveillance data did not reveal any abnormalities of the blood chemistries which were felt to be due to the workplace. The average SGPT level was 27 units (normal 2-56) with four employees (7%) having levels greater than 56. The HCB levels continue to fall with the average level for workers with five yearly HCB levels dropping from 61 ppb in 1989 to 51 ppb in 1990 (see accompanying graph). Thirty-two workers with four yearly HCB levels showed a decline from 46 ppb in 1989 to 40 ppb in 1990 (see accompanying graph). There were no standard threshold shifts in hearing. Ten employees (17%) had average hearing loss of greater than 25 dB in one or both ears. Average cholesterol fell from 204 mg% in 1989 to 197 mg% in 1990. gdk 2/91 2 DO 078380 GONFTDFNTT Al Contractor Employees: Review of the medical surveillance data did not reveal any abnormalities of the blood chemistries which were felt to be due to the workplace. The average SGPT was 26 units with two contractor employees (5%) having levels greater than 56. Nine of the contractor employees have had more than one HCB performed, and eight of these have shown declining levels. Fifteen contractor employees who have been working in the plant for more than one year had HCB levels below the limit of detection. There were no standard threshold shifts in hearing. Thirteen contractor employees <34%) had average hearing loss of greater than 25dB in one or both ears. Remarks: There continues to be extensive Industrial Hygiene monitoring for multiple hydrocarbons as well as noise in the plant. Noise dosimetry data for job assignments would be helpful for objectively evaluating individual noise exposure. This information is particularly helpful when evaluating standard threshold shifts if any should occur. Emphasis on proper use of hearing protection should continue, and off the job hearing protection should also be emphasized in training sessions. The continued fall in HCB blood levels demonstrates the positive results of improved engineering controls and improved housekeeping in the plant. Several projects are planned in the future which will further decrease the potential for chemical exposures. These include a gradual change to the use of seal less pumps, a closed loop sample system, a low fugitive emission valve project, and a vent recovery system for the tank farm, loading rack and dock areas. We encourage you to share the medical surveillance results with the employees in the plant, and if there are any questions or you would like one of us to discuss the results, please give us a call. gdk 2/9 1 3 00 0783a1 OoNp JOf'NTTA(, TSCA 8(d) Chemicals on Solvents/EDC 1 CPAI Bromodichloromethane Bromoform Chloroform Epichlorohydrin Ethyl Chloride Ethylene Dichloride Hexachlorobutadiene Hexachloroethane Methylene Chloride Perchlorethylene Propylene Dichloride Propylene Oxide Toluene 1.1.1.2 Tetrachloroethane 1.1.2 Trichloroethane 1.1.2.2 Tetrachloroethane gdk 2/91 4 DO 07838? 00NFTDFNTTA1. HCB PPB CONFTDFNTTAl 200 1 80 " 1 60 1 40 1 20 * 1 00 80 40 f 20 O SOLVENTS HCB SERUM LEVELS 1987-1990 NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVINO TEST: 32 54 40 1 987 1988 1989 YEARS 1 990 LEGEND i HCB HCB-PPB DO 0 7 8 3 8 4 00NFTDFNTTAI 200 180 1 60 1 40 120 100 80 60 40 20 O L SOLVENTS HCB SERUM LEVELS 1986--1990 NUMBER OF PEOPLE FIVE TESTI 13 O 1986 1987 1988 YEARS 1989 1990 LEGEND HEALTH TEAM REVIEW 1991 SOLVENTS/EDC I DOW EMPLOYEES 1990 Eligible Participating Male Female SGPT (Liver Enzyme) Greater than reference range Standard Threshold Shifts Hearing loss greater than 25 dB Cholesterol less than 200 200-239 greater than 239 60 58 97% 55 3 27 units 4 7%. 0 1 0 17% 197 36 15 7 mcp/o 62% 26% 12% DO 078385 OONFTDFNTTAl HEALTH TEAM REVIEW 1991 SOLVENTS/EDC I CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES Eligible Participating SGPT (Liver Enzyme) Greater than reference range Standard Threshold Shifts Hearing loss greater than 25 dB Cholesterol less than 200 200-239 greater than 239 1990 39 38 97% 26 units 2 5% 0 1 3 34% 190 25 10 3 mcf/o 66% 26% 8% 00 078386 OONFTDFNTTAl