Document peymZdrV1kakR53RQoEGzO9od

s W Z Z b - U,2.n CC: d. F. Doughty * T. A. Foster Dr. Y. L. Power J. A. Schmid T. L. Schrenk R. N. Taylor P. Thistleton J. F. Thomas R. J. Zipfel File 1.1.7.3 August 11, 1983 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL TO: T. M. KEMP. FROM: J. G. L 0 S C H I A V 0 ^ . .& < ^ UPDATE ON THE C-8 BLOOD SAMPLING PROGRAM An overall drop in blood C-8 levels is observed in TEFLON Fine Powder/Dispersion and FEP Operators. This drop in blood C-8 levels is statistically significant. In Table 1, it can be noted that 16 out of 22 Fine Powder/Dispersion Operators experienced a drop in blood C-8 levels. An additional two Operators experienced no change. The four remaining Operators experienced increases. In Table 2, it can be noted that 14 out of 15 FEP Operators experi enced a drop in blood C-8 levels. The significant downward trends experi enced by both groups of Operators are very encouraging. Data on individuals who left TEFLON indicate that the biological half-life of C-8 in the blood (i.e., the time it takes to reduce blood C-8 level by 50%) is approximately two years. DISCUSSION The attached Tables contain blood C-8 data for TEFLON Fine Powder/ Dispersion and FEP Operators. Blood C-8 data were obtained from the FLAIR (FIuoropolymers Laboratory Analysis Information Retrieval) program. All blood samples were analyzed by the C-8 specific method. Data recorded in FLAIR up to 7/14/83 are included in this report. Only data on Operators who have worked in TEFLON at least 730 days as of the first of the two listed sample dates are included since new Operators will experience in creasing blood C-8 leyels until an equilibrium level is reached. 83B-2604B-1 EID079277 T. M. KEMP 2- - AUGUST 11, 1983 Blood C-8 levels for Fine Powder/Dlspersion Operators range from 1.1 ppm to 25.0 ppm and average 5.5 ppm (see Table 1). These Operators experienced an overall 13% drop in blood C-8 levels over the past two years. Blood C-8 levels for FEP Operators range from 0.36 ppm to 3.7 ppm and average 1.2 ppm (see Table 2). These Operators experienced an overall 14% drop In blood C-8 levels over the past two years. A paired-t test was performed on the blood C-8 data to determine if the blood C-8 decrease experienced by most of the Operators Is statisti cally significant. As a result, the decreases were found to be statisti cally significant at the p = 0.05 level. These significant blood C-8 reductions are no doubt due to efforts made by TEFLON Copolymers and Polymers business teams to reduce C-8 in air levels. Although many of the Fine Powder/Dispersion Operators are experienc ing blood C-8 decreases, there are four Operators whose blood C-8 levels have increased. Interestingly, all four Operators are involved with weigh ing C-8 in the ingredients hood. Levels of C-8 in air outside this hood have been found to exceed the AEL. Two samples recently collected in this area were analyzed at 0.79 mpb and 0.84 mpb,, Housekeeping and work habits in this area are less'than adequate. A large amount of powder was observed around the outside of the hood. For this reason, it's recommended that work habits be Improved and Safety and Health Rules involving the weighing of C-8 be reviewed with all employees concerned, namely Autoclave Operators and Dispersion Processors. It's also recommended that a liquid C-8 solu tion be considered as a replacement for the C-8 powder. Blood C-8 data were obtained on five individuals who left TEFLON due to transfer or retirement (see Table 3). Data on these individuals indicate that on the average it takes approximately two years to reduce blood C-8 levels by 50%. This is called the biological half-life. 0GL:sdc Attachments 83B-2604B-2 m @ 232, EID079278 TABLE 1 TEFLON FINE POWDER/DISPERSION OPERATORS C-8 BLOOD SAMPLE RESULTS DATE OF FIRST SAMPLE C-8 IN BLOOD (PPM) 1/14/82 2/18/82 10/8/81 8/7/81 10/1/81 2/11/82 8/12/81 4/2/82 1/7/82 4/6/81 3/11/82 12/30/81 8/19/81 3/26/82 12/2/81 3/11/82 7/16/81 7/16/81 4/6/81 3/3/82 2/9/82 10/9/81 26.0 24.0 11.0 9.4 8.2 7.0 6.9 5.6 4.4 4.3 3.9 3.6 3.5 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.1 1.6 1.5 1.3 T = 6.3 ppm DAYS IN JOB AT SAMPLE DATE 9,358 2,332 9,260 2,379 5,813 1,989 1,743 8,311 5,765 857 800 962 871 8,242 2,256 1,621 5,652 1,705 918 5,880 770 1,803 DATE OF SECOND SAMPLE C-8 IN BLOOD (PPM) 1/12/83 2/17/83 11/3/82 8/6/82 9/29/82 2/10/83 7/15/82 3/2/83 1/7/83 5/12/82 3/10/83 12/27/82 8/17/82 3/18/83 12/2/82 4/6/83 6/17/82 6/30/82 1/19/82 3/22/83 2/10/83 10/6/82 20.0 25.0 8.2 7.9 6.5 7.7 5.9 4.2 4.9 5.6 3.6 2.7 2.1 2.8 2.8 2.4 1.8 2.5 1.6 1.5 1.2 1.1 J * 5.5 ppm DAYS IN JOB AT SAMPLE DATE 9,721 2,696 9,651 2,743 6,176 2,080 8,645 6,130 1,258 vf 1,164 1,324 1.234 8,599 2,621 2,012 5,988 2,054 1,206 6,264 1,136 2,165 16 out of 22 employees experienced decreased blood C-8 levels, 2 out of 22 employees experienced no change in blood C-8 levels, 4 out of 22 employees experienced increased blood C-8 levels. Decrease in C-8 in blood levels is statistically significant at p = 0.05 1evel. 83B-2604B-3 000233 EID079279 AJP002402 TABLE 2 TEFLON FEP OPERATORS C-8 BLOOD SAMPLE RESULTS DATE OF FIRST SAMPLE C-8 IN BLOOD (PPM) 4/7/81 2/2/82 4/15/82 1/27/82 12/16/81 4/7/81 4/21/81 3/31/82 10/28/81 10/15/81 3/17/82 8/26/81 2/25/82 8/28/81 10/28/81 4.5 3.1 2.1 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.25 0.95 0.86 0.75 0.52 0.51 0.42 0.41 0.38 X = 1.4 ppm DAYS IN JOB AT SAMPLE DATE 1,284 9,438 8,917 9,249 1,977 827 732 5,813 899 1,807 5,417 891 2,387 861 1,927 DATE OF SECOND SAMPLE 4/22/82 2/21/83 4/14/83 1/26/83 1/12/83 9/15/82 10/9/81 4/26/83 5/16/83 10/14/82 3/17/83 7/29/82 5/16/83 8/26/82 10/26/82 C-8 IN BLOOD (PPM) 3.7 2.8 1.5 1.1 1.6 1.4 1.20 0.79 0.75 0.72 0.44 0.48 0.39 0.46 0.36 1.2 ppm DAYS IN JOB AT SAMPLE DATE 1,664 9,822 9,281 9,613 2,369 1,353 903 6,204 1,464 2,171 5,782 1,228 2,832 1,224 2,290 14/15 employees experienced decreased blood C-8 levels. Decrease in C-8 in blood levels is statistically significant at p 0.05 1evel. AJP002403 83B-2604B-4 . 000224 EID079280 TABLE 3 EMPLOYEES WHO LEFT TEFLON JOBS C-8 IN BLOOD WHEN C-8 IN BLOOD AT DAYS ELAPSED REASON FOR LEAVING LEFT TEFLON (PPM) A LATER DATE (PPM) BETWEEN SAMPLES TEFLON 19.0 3.8 2.1 0.57 0.14 16.0 2.2 2.2* 0.14 3-0 1 0 ,2> S 128 780 333 730 0.08 759 Retired from Company Retired from Company Retired from Company Transferred to another WW Division Transferred to another WW Division *This 5% increase in C-8 blood levels is likely due to analytical error and will be considered as a 0% drop in blood C-8. Biological half-life of C-8 in blood based on these 5 data points is 2.1 years. AJP002404 83B-2604B-5 U023S EID079281