Document pBVEyDzebK1dGaMbVJ6GQ06Jd

May 4, 1981 Volume 59, Number 18 CENEAR 59 (18) 1-68 ISSN 0009-2347 Chemical & Engineering 2 Letters 3 Editor's Page Concentrates 8 Business 18 Government 22 Science/Technology The Departments 42 ACS Comment 48 Meetings 57 People 68 Newscripts URL 05049 News of the Week Phosphates market gets much-needed boost from Administration's lifting of embargo against U.S.S.R. Page 4 Detection of sickle cell anemia in a fetus made safer, more reliable using genetic en gineering technique. PageS National Academy of Sciences scores Ad ministration for research budget cuts; elects 60 new members. Page S Faster superconducting switches developed at Bell Labs. PageS First mechanized oligonucleotide synthe sizers, made by Vega Biochemicals, have gone into customers' labs. Page $ Supreme Court rules that private citizens or groups cannot block construction of Califor nia canal project % Page $ Business Chemical companies find themselves pressed by financing needs as results begin to be felt from 1980 recession. Page IS Government Environmental Protection Agency's 1982 research funds down 12% from 1981; major cuts proposed for some studies. Page 19 Department of Defense grants woo small business enterprises. Page 20 NSF survey finds public attitudes favorable to science and technology. Page 21 Science Optical-magnetic spectroscopy work proves photosynthesis mechanism. Page26 Chemical oscillators engineered by team at Brandeis University. Page28 Heavy-Ion microscopy produces threedimensional replica of a sample. Page 28 Education Retired chemists supervise undergraduate research at Drew University. Page 80 ACS publishes guide to U S. chemical edu cation for foreign students. Page 31 Technology European Federation of Biotechnology congress points up problems in the discipline, emphasizes cooperative effort. Page 32 C&EN's Top Fifty Total output of 50 big-volume chemicals declined almost 4 % in 1980 but sales in creased for Top 50 companies. Page 35 ACS News Committees succeeding EdCom, SciCom meet in Atlanta. Page 43 Letters to House, EPA give ACS's views on patents, chemical fate tests. Page 47 May 4, 1981 CAEN 1 Jhemical & Engineering News 55--16th St., N.W.. Washington, D.C, 20036 Editor: Michael Heyiin Managing Editor: William F. Fallwell Assistant Managing Editors: David M. Kiefer. , James H. Kriegei, Donald J. Soisson * J Staff Editor; Ernest L. Carpenter Senior Editors: Earl V. Anderson (New York), Wilbert C. Lepkowski, Howard J. Sanders Associate Editors: Jeffrey L. Fox, Rebecca L. Rawls, Richard J. Seltzer Assistant Editors: Doron Dagani, Fame!* S. Zurer Editorial Assistant: Theresa L. Rome Editing Services: Joyce A. Richards (Head), Dolores Miner (Editorial Assistant) News Bureaus: New York: (2121 697-3223 William J. Storck (Head). Stephen C. Stinson (Associate Editor!. Chicago: (312) 236-7325 Ward Worthy (Head), Joseph Haggin (Associate Editor). Houston: (713) 522-4125 Bruce F. Greek (Head). Washington: (202) 872-4496 Janice R. Long (Head). Lois R. Ember and David J. Hanson (Associate Editors). West Coast: (415) 665-4971 Rudy M. Baum (Head) Foreign Bureau: London: (01) 540-0414 Dermot A. O'Sullivan (Head) Indexer: Nancy R. Gleboff Graphics and Production: Elmer M. Pusey Jr. (Head). Leroy Corcoran (Manager), John V. Sinnett (Art Director). Barbara Hayes (Designer). Linda Mattingly (Staff Artist) Business Manager: Arthur Poulos Circulation Development: Cynthia G. Smith ADVISORY BOARD: Alfred R. Bader, William 0. Baker, John D. Baldeachwieler. Eula Bingham, William A. Blenpied, Ronald Breclow, F. Albert Cotton. Bryce Crawford Jr.. Edward Donley, George B. Hegeman. James D. Idol Jr., Ralph Leviton, M. E. Pruiu, William Spindel, and George L. Suther land Published by AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (202) 872-4600 Raymond P. Mariella, Executive Director EDITORIAL BOARD: Gordon L. Nelson {Chairman); Board of Directors Chairman: William J. Bailey; President-Elect: Robert W. Panv; Im mediate Past-President: James D. D'lanni; Ernest L. Eliel, Harold Hart, John H. Nelson, Warren D. Niederhauser Copyright 1981, American Chemical Society Subscription Service: Send all new and renewal subscriptions with payment to: Directorof Financial Operations, ACS, 1155--16th St., N.W., Washing ton, D.C. 20036, All correspondence and telephone calls regarding changes of address, claims for missing iBsues, subscription service, status of rec ords and accounts should be directed to: Manager, Membership St Subscription Services, ACS, r.O. Box 3337, Columbus, Ohio 43210; (614) 421-7230. 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For information, contact Microform Program. ACS. Published by ACS from 20th St Northampton St.. Easton, Pa., weekly except for the last week in De cember. Second class postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing uffkee. ACS assumes no responsibility lor the statements and opinions advanced by the contributors to its publications. Permission is granted by the American Chemical Society to make reprographic copies for personal, noncommercial, or internal use. This permission does not extend to copying for promotional pur poses, creating new collective works, resale, or to any material not under copyright to ACS. Advertising Management CENTCOM LTD, (For Ust of offieea aee page *7) 2 C&EN May 4. 1981 Letters fC> rJ* Industrial chemistry course SIR: Your recent discussion (C&EN, Feb. 9. page 431 regarding academic vs. industrial or chem ical engineering thinking and preparation of students was read with much interest. I have been concerned with the matter for some time, and have spent many an hour with my industrial friends in discussion regarding graduates and how much training was necessaiy to "fit" them for their new job. Our department has begun to attack the problem by implementing a new "industrial chemistry" major. This program has been met with much enthusiasm and cooperation from our local Industry, and is apparently being met with equal enthusiasm by our students and adminis tration. We expect to share some of our costs, ideas, and personnel--through seminars, lab oratory interaction, guest (Industry) lectures, and internships. 1 know that others have had successful ex periences along similar lines, and would not be a bit surprised to see that the traditional "standoffishness" (on both sides) will soon give way to a spirit of cooperation. After all, when ever I have discussed the matter one-on-one l have found that we are not so far from our brothers after all; it is the larger group meeting which leads to arguments--perhaps that is the nature of the human being. Thomas Neil Associate Professor of Chemistry, Keene State College, N.H. On studying cancer causes SR: I read wtlh interest the report called Sctenoe Update--Blochemisfry In the March 2 issue. On page 29 the subject of research into causes for cancer is discussed. I wonder If the reason our nation has failed to find the means by which cancer is started it because most of the effort such aa that of the National Cancer institute, has bean directed towards finding a "chemicals" cause instead of a natwai biological causa, as discussed In the article? As a result of Congress and the Delaney clause of the Food & Drug Act we have been in a position of their having predetermined that there are Indeed sinister causes for cancer. Too bed research cannot be conducted In the proper atnxMphere Instead of being directed by people with no knowledge of science. Consultant Orinda, Calif. R. W. LHHe More on nuclear arms race SIR: You will no doubt receive several letters which state that the article on the nuclear arms race does not belong in C&EN. As a reason the writers will state that It Is not chemical or sci entific in natire, and thus has no connection with the American Chemical Society. Let me suggest to these people, and others, another point of view, another way of thinking. As a chemist (or other scientist) you are prac ticing a science which is of peat interest to you, of great value to you, other than as a mere means of livelihood. Most of you think that It Is important that chemistry (and all science) con tinue to exist and continue to progress. The ex istence of science and the progress of science are something to which you attach a high valu ation. Those who have studied the nuclear war sit uation agree that the degree of probability of a nuclear war is pretty much a random phenom enon: The chance of nuclear catastrophe in creases as the number of weapons increases, as the proliferation increases, and as time goes on. The chance of nuclear catastrophe is now high and constantly increasing: it is now "four minutes to midnight." A major nuclear war will not destroy mankind, but will demolish the technologically advanced nations. Chaos will reign. Transportation will come virtually to a standstill. Energy supplies, including electricity, will almost vanish. When you flip the switch the NMR Instrument will not come on, the centrifuge will not spin, the ac- celerator wilt not bomberd nuclei. Most science libraries will disappear in smoke, because most are located in or near cities. Chemical Abstracts will not get the information to abstract, and its computers will not alphabetize. A large per- centage of chemists wHI be dead, because they too are located In or near cities. The science of chemistry will come virtually to a standstill. Ploose. If you have any love of chemistry (and science In general), and a desire for to continued development, then join in the efforts to reduce the possibility of nuclear catastrophe. Kent State University R. Thomas Myers ^ __ r-- O 5 GH 0 TCDO h hexachiorophene SR I have previously -ceded attention to the 2,3,7,8-tettachlorodtoengodbxte (TCOD, dioxin) contamination of 2,4,5-T and Ns "affects" on Vietnam veterans exposed to agent orange as being Insignificant owing to the low and brief ei^oaures Involved (C&EN, Nov. 12,1979, page 50). In particular I pointed out Fiat the Seve&o, Italy, accident with TCDO involved a factory mtedng hexachiorophene, *4dch waa and still is used by many doctors and nurses and which was removed from general use In antiseptic soaps in the early seventies after being implicated in the deaths of newborns (C&EN, July 7. 1980, page 50). However, I could not find any literature references to show hexachiorophene being analyzed for TCDO. although Whiteside, in his New Yorker article "The Pendulum and the Toxic Cloud," July 25, 1977, page 30, mentions the association of contaminated 2.4,5-trichlo- . rophenol being common to both 2,4,5-T and f hexachiorophene, and the detection of very low ' levels of TCDO in hexachiorophene in 1976. I now have found mention in an analytical procedure for hexachiorophene residues (Van Ai*en, O. W,, Hutse, M.. "Hexachiorophene," Continued on page 58 'J Books URL 05051 Characterisation of Catalysts. J. MThomas, R. M. Lambert, editors, xiv + 283 pages. John Wiley ft Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave-, New York, N.Y. 10016.1981. *49. Chemical and Nonchemical Disinfection. Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff, Paul N. Cheremisinoff, Richard B. Trattner. xi + 172 pages. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, P.O. Box 1425, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106.1981. *29.50. Chemical Engineering Kinetics. 3rd Ed. J. M. Smith, xix + 676 pages. McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1221 Ave. of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020.1981. *27.95. Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Mecha nisms. Jomes H. Espenson. x + 218 pagesMcGraw-Hill Book Co., 1221 Ave. of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020. 1981. $24.95. Chemistry and Physics of Carbon. VoL 16. Philip L. Walker Jr., Peter A. Thrower, editors, xii + 322 pages. Marcel Dekker Inc., 270 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1981. $42.50. Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry. Joanne M. Widom, Stuart J. Edelstein. xiv + 743 pages. W. H. Freeman & Co , 660 Market St., San Francisco, Calif. 94104.1981. $22.95. Chemistry in Two Dimensions: Surfaces. Gabor A. Somorjai. 575 pages. Cornell Uni versity Press, 124 Roberta PI., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850.1981. *48.50. Design ft Management for Resource Re covery. Voi. 2. Brenda Harrison, P. Aarne VesUind. xii + 95 pages. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, P.O. Box 1425, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106.1980. *29.95. Design ft Management for Resource Re covery. Vol. 3. AibertJ.Klee.xii4-153 pages. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, P.O. Box 1425, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106.1980. *39. Effective Management for Engineers and Scientists. Leon A. Wortman. xv + 275 pages. John Wiley ft Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave.. New York, N.Y. 10016.1981. *17.95. Electron Transfer Reactions.R.D. Cauntai ix + 351 pages. Buttarworths Pubbshom, 10 Tower Office Park, Woburn, Mass. OU0L1RB& *84.96. ... , Energy, The Biomass Options. Han^y It Bungay, ix + 347 pages. Joba Wiley ft.Bons Inc., 605 Third Ave.. New Ybsk, N.Y. Kl* 1981. $29.96. Environmental Health Chemistry. James D. McKinney, editor, xiv + 666 pages. Ann Arbor Publishers, P.O. Box 1425, Ann Arbor, Mich- 48106.1981. *34.75. Inorganic Chemistry in Biology and Med icine. ACS Symposium Series 140. Arthur E. Martell, editor, viii + 436 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155--16th St., N.W., Washington, O.C. 20036.1980. *39.50. Introduction to the Magnetic Properties of Solids. A S. Chakravsrty. rv 4- 696 pages. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York. N. Y. 10158.1980. *65. Magnetic Resonance in Biology. VoL 1. Jack S- Cohen, editor, xiii + 309 pages. John Wiley ft Sons Inc., 606 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10158.1980. $32.50. Oxocarbon*. Robert West, editor, xi 4- 235 pages. Academic Press, 111 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10003. 1980. $32. Particulates in Water: Characterization, Fete, Effects, and Removal. Advances in Chemistry Series 189. Michael C. Kavanaugh, James O. Leckie, editors, xi 4- 401 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155--16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. 1980. $59.50. Pentacoordinated Phosphorus. Vol. 1, Structure and Spectroscopy. ACS Monograph 175. Robert R. Holmes, xi 4- 479 pages. Amer ican Chemical Society, 1155--16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.1980. $92. Pentacoordinated Phosphorus. Vol. 2, Re action Mechanisms. ACS Monograph 176. Robert R. Holmes, xi 4- 237 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155--l$th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.1980. $52. Peat and Disease Control Handbook. Nigel Scopes, Michael Ledieu, editors, xvj 4- 336 pages. BCPC Publications, 74 London Rd., Croydon CR0 2TB, U.K. 1979. *35. The Pesticide Manual. 6th ed. Charles R. Worthing, editor, ix 4- 655 pages. British Crop Protection Council, 74 London Rd., Croydon CR0 2TB, U.K. 1979. $59.95. Photoacoustics and Photoacoustic Spec troscopy. Allan Roaencwaig. xii 4- 309 pages. John Wiley ft Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10158.1980. *35. Physical Methods in Modern Chemical Analysis. VoL 2. Theodore Kuwana, editor, xi 4- 411 pages. Academic Press, 111 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10003.1980. $45. Plastics. 6th Ed. H. Harry DuBois, Frederick W. John, xiii 4- 461 pages. Van Noetrand Reinhold Co^ 135 West 50th St., New York, N.Y. 10020.1980. *32. Polymer Characterisation by EBR and NMR. ACS Symposium Series 142. Arthur E. Woodward, Frank A Bovey, editors, x 4- 300 pages. American Chemical Society, 2156--16th SL, N.W., Waahipgton,. D.C. 20036. I960. *32. PUm-tglra nf Prsslfnattiin Tirti IIP "ml Ed. K. S. Sptagier, Ai&. K. Ltird, adfcon.m 4- ggipagee. Aeademte Press, IliPtithAoej, ftisv-Ytfk. N.Y. I0Q6B. lttO.Pt A,$41;PtB, Peftud Paper: Chemistry and Chemical Twtaolegy. 3rd Ed., VoL H. James P. Casey, editor. xxiT+ 625 pages. John WQey ft Satie Inc., 606 TOrd Am, New York. N.Y. 10158. 1980. *60. Qualitative Analysis of Flavor and Fra grance Volatiles by Glass Capillary Gas Chromatography. Walter Jaminp, Takayuki Shibamoto. vti + 472 pages. Academic Press, 111 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10003. 1980. *39. Refractory Materials--Developments Since 1*77. J. I. Duffy.editor. xiii + 366 pagan Noyes Data Corp., Mill Rd. at Grand Ave., Park Ridge, NJ. 07656.1980. *42. Solventleee and High Solids Industrial Finishes: Recent Developments. M. T. Gillies, editor, x 4- 342 pages. Noyes Data Corp., Mill Rd. at Grand Ave,, Park Ridge, NJ. 07656.1980. *48. Solid State Chemistry: A Contemporary Overview. Advances in Chemistry Series 186. Smith L. Holt, Joseph B. Milstein, Murray Robbins, editors, x 4- 437 pages. American Chemical Society, 1156--16tb St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.1980. *59.50. ' * Triasolee: 1,2,3. K. Thomas Finley, John A. Montgomery, ix 4- 349 pages. John Wiley ft Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10158.1980. *100. Vibrational Spectroscopies for Adsorbed Species. ACS Symposium Series 137. Alexis T. Bell, Michael L. Hair, editors, viii 4- 295 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155--16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.1980. *31. The Vocabulary of Organic ChemistryMilton Orchin et al ix + 609 pages. John Wiley ft Sons Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016.1980. *35. Wastewater Engineering Design for Un sewered Areas. Rein Leak, xi 4- 179 pages. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, P.O. Box 1455, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106.1980. $28. Wastewater Reuse and Recycling Tech nology. Gordon Culp, George Weener, Robert Williams, Mark V. Hughes Jr. x 4- 838 pages. Noyes Data Corp., Mill Rd. at Grand Ave., Park Ridge, N.J. 07656.1980. $48. Weather Data Handbook: For HVAC and Cooling Equipment Design. Ecodyne Corp. 299 pages. McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1221 Ave. of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020.1980. *32.50. What Every Engineer Should Know About Economic Decision Analysis. Dean S. Shupe. ix 4- 136 pages. Marcel Dekker Inc., 270 Mad ison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1980. *12.50. What Every Engineer Should Know About Human Resources Management. Desmond D. Martin, Richard L. Shell xii 4-176 pages. Marcel Dekker Inc., 270 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. I960. $12.75. Paperbacks Ctil Ash Disposal Solid Waste Impacts. Raymond A Ttipodi, Patd N. Cheremisinoff. 52 pages. Tecbnomic Publishing Co., 265 Post Rd. West, Westport, Conn. 06880.198a *15. Contact: Toxics--Guido to Specialists on Toxic Substances. Richard L- Pesberthy, editor, xi 4- 174 pages. World Environment Center, 300 East 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10017.198a *49.5a Felix Bloch and Twentieth-Century Physics. M. Chodorow et al. xi + 247 pages. Rice University Campus Store, William Marsh Rice University, P.O. Boa 1892, Houston, Tex. 77001.198a *7.00 paperback; *13 hardcover. Man, Heiigimi, and Science. William Bailey, x 4- 242 pages. Wm. Bailey, Publisher, P.O. Box 985, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93102. 1979. *9.95. Metric Madness; Over 150 Ramsons for NOT Converting to the Metric System. J. W. Batchelder. xvi 4- 245 pegee- Devin-Adair Co., 143 Sound Beach Ave,, Old Greenwich, Conn. 0687Q. 1981. $12.95 hardcover; *5.95 paperback. Mey 4. 1981 CAEN 57 Letters A, new look, but... THE EVANS COMMITMENT TO ORGANIC SULFUR CHEMISTRY IS STRONGER THAN EVER! for almost 50 years we have devoted our efforts to introducing new compounds, and woricing with our customers to develop products fortheirspecial 1 requirements, in our area of specialization--organic dWalent sulfur compounds. Now that we are part of the Organic Chemicate DMstdfcof ~ W. R. Grace 8t Co . our assigned mission is to build orvand expand*, our position In specialty organic * sulfur compounds. Thiswill be facilitated with thflroddltiondl strengths erf theCaperate Research Center andother resources of W. R. Grace & Co. Send for our catalog listing chemicals we make on a commercial scale. ELKINS CHEMETICS WR. Grace&Ca 90 Tokeneke Road. Darien, CT 06820 Phone (203) 655-8741 Continued from page 2 "Analytical Methods for Pesticides and Plant Growth Regulators." Vol. X. Ed., G. Zweig. Ac* ademic Press. New York, 1978) that some commercial hexachlorophene did have TCDO contamination, but no data on frequency or quantity and no references to such data were given. The Food 8> Drug Administration's "Pes ticide Analytical Manual" has a method for TCOO in hexachlorophene submitted In 1974, and correspondence with the Environmental Pro tection Agency (E. Johnson, March 9. 1981) in dicates that hexachlorophene used as an agri cultural fungickia-bacterlclde I* supposed to have less than 0.1 ppm of TCDO. However, EPA's "Manual of Chemical Methods for Pesti cides and Devices" omits methods for hexa chlorophene formulations, as well ss methods for TCOD, which raises the question as to when the 0.1-ppm level went into effect. Obviously, the presence of TCOD as a con taminant In hexachlorophene has been known for some time, and the time has come to drag this skeleton out of the closet to try to find the levels and frequency of contamination before 1970. The past silence on TCOO contamination of hexachlorophene (out of perhaps a dozen articles In the popular literature and scientific news reports on TCOD, only Whiteside has mentioned the 2,4,5-trichlorophenol as the ac tual contaminated material and the possibility of TCDO In hexachlorophene) does not bods well for perhaps millions of Americans in view of tie following uses of hexachlorophene. As mentioned before, hexachlorophene containing (3%) soaps have been used to scrub before operations by almost aU doctors sines the early 19S0's. From than to the earty 1970's, many hexachlorophene baaed antiseptic ma terials were widely advertised and used for acrw and scat) oondtttons. Doctors presorted at least one soap for douching to control certain vaginal Infections. Up until the curtailing of use* In the earty 1970`s. Ihase products cartaWy idhtahmJ some TCOD an some oOQiilore, as ftp tins knew before, and some was found aftertax While one soap has bean monitored carefuBy since then, the terra* *HOdW}pce (#* douche wth > before yfltoel L^mjdlriiii has reoendybesn drappsfl taunteeJa^tsposgted uses by the company. fRWh thsss et^aswes, .the women of America who douched wMHfce seeps ought to be oumstdconcwn tor *prcf duetten dffllcdltas. bkftdstaori fiW cMfriss. and cancer, rather Own Sw Vletrwm vatetarp. Beside the dkect antisepbc exposures, two new grotats--aplcultiral fungicide applicators and hexachlorophene plant workers--are now identified as haring poaafefs chronic exposures to TCDO over many yeers. Hexachlorophene has been used in a variety of fungicide bactericide formulations lor crops wHh a wide rang# of usee In the 1960's (Thomson, W. T., "Agricukwl Chemicals--Book IV, Fungicides, Thomson Pub., Davis. Caw., 1967, page 215). By 1676 w uses had been reduced considerably, but no information whatsoever seems to be avaBabte on the contamination in the products or in die manufacturing of them. At the present time EPA has regtakadensfor a hexachlorophene formulation with uses In tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers for sppiications made weekly up to three to five days before harvest, but without tolerances assigned for hexachlorophene residues in the crops. When compared to the exposures noted above and in 2.4,5-T plants and applicators noted before, the low and brief exposure of the Vietnam veterans has to be considered insi^ nificarrt, until some people in these severely exposed groups start to show the affects, so far unnoticed in some of these *oupe, that ww claimed by so many veterans. Some people In these groups were exposed to TCOD before the Vietnam war directly using or handling practi cally daily for years products with possible contamination much greater than in one or two agent orange spray drifts. The doctors and nurses who used hexachlorophene soaps several limes a day with vigorous scrubbing certainly had much more effective and frequent exposure to TCOD then the veterans. The women who douched with the hexa chlorophene soaps had such direct contact with their reproductive systems that Immediate epi demiologic studies seem to be required. I think these studies should include a reassessment of the connection between vaginal cancer occur ring in daughters and dlethyistifbestroi taken by their mothers to see if douching with a hexa chlorophene soap miit be implicated. I hope that the Vietnam veterans will start realizing that their claims are badly divertlog attention from possible serious exposures to TCOO. if the veterans continue to pivsue their claims heedlessly, a great deal of time and money wfB be sacrificed that could otherwise be used by scientists and doctors to find if these more severe exposures have any low latent ef fects that have so far escaped notice. Throughout this letter the toxicology Is based on the concept of higher and/or longer exposures causing greater and/or taster responses. With exposures of hexachlorophene noted hare, the TCOO contamination of it requires putting aside Its contamination in 2,4,5-T for now. fVo PfMriw. P R. Jamas A. Sngmaster IR Regulatory madness 9Vt: Ragawflng M. Jeffrey Shoamafcer'sTeceat tetter (CAEN, Jan. 19. pegs f06)*ayt*wret ufcSon of phenytaostens avaHsbiMy.l became aware at the classification of IMS consnon chemical on Schedule ll of tee Saheduies of GomroNad Substances recently vteertow otter ter a small amount ofphenytacetone, which has tradtionaRy been used as one of the unknowns In cxr undsryaduate organic chemistry labora tory, was bounced by a major chemical supplier. Since I do not have Drug Enforcement Admin istration authorization to possess controlled substances, we had to (kop this chemical from oir Hst of unknowns. t found myself wondering how many more of Our organic irtenowns would soon be unavail able for the same reason. Will we soon be un able to purchase acetyl chtcrids simply because It can be used to convert morphine to heroin? Something must be done about this regulatory madness and I wholeheartedly agree with Shoemaker that ACS should take the lead in auch an effort. Kenneth L. Brown Associate Professor of Chemistry, University oi Texas, Arlington 58 CAEN May 4. 1981 UHL 05052 i >