Document pedLwE1qaxamvy8yDv3nJ8vQD

RECEIVED Manufacturing Chemists Association Minutes of Meeting VINYL CHLORIDE RESEARCH COORDINATORS MCA Headquarters October 12, 1976 Washington, D,C. Chairman Torkelson convened the meeting at 2:00 p.m. The record of attendance is: MEMBERS PRESENT: T. R. Torkelson, W. D. Harris M. N- Johnson H. L. Kusnetz W. M. Smith R. N. Wheeler M. Freifeld Chairman MEMBERS ABSENT: 2. G. Bell, Jr. The Dow Chemical Company UNIROYAL, Inc. B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company Shell Oil Company Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. Union Carbide Corporation MCA Staff PPG Industries, Inc. GUESTS PRESENT: R. K. Hinderer R. W. Laundrie Ethyl Corporation The General Tire & Rubber Company ****** ****** I. Minutes of Last Meeting The minutes of the April 27 meeting were approved as distributed. 2. Finances The statement of October I, 1976 was reviewed by the Project Manager and a copy will be attached to the minutes of the Panel meeting of October 13. see 5-0799 VC/RC - 2 3. projects Completed or in Progress 3.1 Industrial BIQ-TEST Laboratories, Inc. We have been unable to obtain a draft of a final report although the. work has been done for some time and both Dr. Torkelson and the Project Manager have requested one from IBT several times. It is recognized that IBT is under heavy pressure in de fending their reputation. Also, there is some hesitancy about forcing a work product before they are ready and receiving a report put together in haste. 3.2 Equitable Environmental Health, Inc. The final report has been in the hands of Research Coor dinators only a few days which is not considered sufficient time to review it thoroughly. The delay came about because of a UPS strike and was not the fault of Equitable. The most serious problem found with the report was the grouping of PVC plants in one category and all others in a second category when reporting causes of death. The latter apparently includes vinyl chloride monomer plants in combination with co polymer polymerization plants and this is thought to be an unre alistic combination. In monomer plants the VC is usually entirely enclosed within the system and the worker exposure is minimal. Hence, it would be more logical to combine PVC with co-polymer plants and show monomer plants separately. The data in question is shown in table 5, page 13. It was also felt the classification "all other certified causes" from the same table required further investigation. For example the question was raised whether connective tissue dis orders were an important factor here. A related question is whether acroosteolysis progresses to malignancy. In view of the short time Research Coordinators had for reviewing this report and the tentative conclusions about it, the following actions were decided on: 1. Project Manager to write Equitable reminding them both Dr. Torkelson and he had requested a draft of the report rather than a final version when they con sidered it ready. 2. Recommend to the Panel that this report not be ac cepted or distributed further until changes have been made?. see VC/RC - 3 3. The Research Coordinators should meet again soon after adequate time to review the report and dis cuss the items cited above plus any others that may arise. The time chosen for such a meeting was 9:00 a.m. on November 30. 4. -* The group agreed that names of supporting companies should appear on the fly leaf of the report. 3.3 Dow Studies The teratology work has been done for some time and indeed the final report has been in the Panel's hands- for sev eral months. The Panel also has reports on metabolic work com pleted to date. 4. Planned studies 4.1 Completion of Metabolism Work All preliminary steps have been taken and an agreement with Dow can now be formalized. Dr. Torkelson mentioned infor mally that the work had actually been started. 4.2 University of Louisville In this case also an agreement is being prepared for signature. It will cover only one year of a three year study and is expected to be effective as of September 1. In view of the lengthy lead time to arrange funding, early consideration of this matter was urged to insure continuity next September. The Project Manager informed the group that the proposal to support this work beyond the first year was presented to the Occupational Health Committee. By this route there is the ultimate possibility of get ting MCA Board approval and thus, wide industry support. However, this is considered unlikely in view of the other projects the Occupational Health Committee is planning to present to the Board this year. Another possibility mentioned was to suggest to the Chem ical Industry Institute of Toxicology that they consider under writing this project. In order to be prepared for the eventuality, which now appears most likely, that the VC panel wilL be asked to continue their support, it was suggested that Dr. Tamburro be invited to the next meeting probably in January, to give the Panel an oral report. It was felt his travel expenses should be reimbursed if he indeed comes at the Panel's request. see -0801 VC/RC - 4 5. Other U.S. and European Studies - Dr. Torkelson briefly reviewed the list projects he is aware of. As soon as he prepares VC projects and critical information about them, tributed to the group. of "other" a list of such it will be dis Recently, Professor Maltoni released information about his inhalation studies at low VC exposure levels. It appeared to show even at 1 ppm there was an excess of tumors over controls. However, it is felt this data needs additional analysis and clarification. The study in question is being supported by Euro pean companies and The Society of the Plastics Industry. We have been informed that the SPI has notified the U.S. government agen cies they thought should be aware of this development. 6. Revision of Safety Data Sheets Mr. Nick Wheeler agreed to be Chairman of a work group on the captioned subject and to select members of the group to work with him. 7. Review of Government Regulations No changes in OSHA regulations are anticipated. Long awaited EPA regulations limiting emissions to 10 ppm are expected to be issued shortly. This figure is to remain as planned. However, Maltoni*s new data will probably be taken into account by modifying the introduction to say that the regulation will be reviewed if additional information becomes available. It has been reported that PDA plans to ban rigid and simirigid containers. 8. Next Meeting D.C. This was set for November 30 at 9:00 a.m. in Washington, The meeting was adjourned MF: cc Minutes Subject to Approval November 2, 1976 Project Manager Vinyl Chloride Research SCC 5-0802