Document pqjMMYb4a358RZqYmEezgYMj

The S ci tyofthe Plastic* Industry, Inc. 355 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10017 (212) 573 9400 June 6, 1977 Our meeting on June 15-16 promises to be educational and to stimulate thinking and discussion. We have arranged for leaders in fire research to describe to us current concerns and programs relating to combustion toxicity of PVC and other polymers. Dr. Victor Each is Chief of Surgery with the District of Columbia Fire Depart ment. Dr. Esch has stated that PVC, of all the plastic polymers, has been primarily implicated in causing the most serious problem in fire fighting today due to Hcl release during combustion. A controversial article written by Dr. Esch which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association is enclosed. The article has been widely reproduced. A comment on Dr. Esch's article and his response is also enclosed. Dr, Merltt Blrkv is responsible for the National Bureau of Standards program to develop a bloassay protocol to evaluate life safety hazards relating to combustion products from burning materials. It is believed that the protocol the Bureau will propose ultimately will become referenced by building codes and other regulatory bodies. Dr. Irving Elnhorn is Director of the Flammability Research Center, University of Utah, and is a leading researcher on combustion toxicology. Attached for information are the abstracts of papers given last year at Utah's Symposium on Toxicity. In particular note the number of papers presented by Utah personnel under Einhora's direction. Under an NBS funded program, the Flammability Research Center has evaluated 140 conmercially significant polymeric materials for toxicity review. The program offers a unique opportunity to help understand combustion toxicity and the role of PVC: how others view us and what the information seems to be telling us so we can plan for the future. Very truly yours Technical Director JRL:LH Enclosures cc: PVC Communications Committee Members PVC Health Committee Members PVC Safety Group Conmlttee Members Elnhorn Esch Birky Blair UCC 008746 agenda PVC PIRE SAFETY COMMITTEE June 15, 1977 2 P.n. Marriott Twin Bridges Washington. DC A full afternoon and evening devoted to combustion toxicity of polymers: What are we doing?; What is being said about us?; What is the Federal Government doing?; What does leading university research indicate about products of combustion? 2 p.m. 5 p.m. 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m, 8:30 p.m. John Blair DuPont, Chairman SP1 CCCS Committee--SPI Fire Toxicology Programs Victor Each, M.D. Chief of Surgery, Board f Police and Fire Surgeons, ' Washington, DC--Concerns/Findings of the Fire Community Dr. Merltt Birky National Bureau of Standards Fire Toxicology Dinner (oiy your own) # Dr. Irving Elnhorn Universltjrof Utah, Flammability Research Center-Toxicity of Combustion Products; Scoping the Role of PVC. Questions & Discussion THE SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY, INC. 355 Lexington Avenue New York, N.Y. 10017 (212) 573-9400 i ucc 008747 ag nda PVC FIRE SAFETY COMMITTEE June 16, 1977 9 a,m. Harriott Twin Bridges Washington. DC 9 a.m. - 12 noon I) Self-Introduction II) Approval of Minutes of March 8, 1977 Meeting III) Committee Reports . Conduit Subcommittee -- D. L. Kent . Technical Subcomnittee -- J. F. Banzer . Uses Subcommittee -- J. D. Tanzllli . Steering Committee -- G. J. Mantell IV) Symposium Reports . Workshop on Flame/Smoke/Toxicity, and Corrosive Gases of Electrical Cables -- A. S. Ambrose . Polymeric Materials in Transportation - Polytechnic Institute of New York, April 27-29 - J. D. Tanzllli 12 noon - 1 p.m. Lunch 1 p.m. - 2 p.m Wrap-up Session & Future Plans THE SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY, INC. 355 Lexington Avenue * New York, N.Y. 10017 (212)573-9400 ucc 008748 ICO JUN 9 1977 R N WHEELER JR. UCC 008749