Document q3kgX21ypEMd3jjN9pJjy75vn

oTATEMENT BY SEMATOP JOHN V. TUNNEY BEFORE THE E-WIP?:-::".:'? SlFCOMMITTEE 1 :r i ; t Lu. . L-v---*** - a -- - AUGUST 23, 157 4 - 2:30 a.a. The Environment Subcommittee r the Commerce Committee is meeting today to examine evidence on the dangers o vinyl chloride. This hearing will be focu r cv ways tc mitigate uc? problems involved with vinyl chi -: ar v- well as ways to avoid crisis of this type ir. the rut It is absolutely indefensible to me that the only way we became aware of the dangers of vinyl chloride was because of the deaths of at least 16 vinyl chloride workers. All died from a rare form of liver cancer which, subsequently, h^s been directly linked to exposure to vinyl chloride. Not only does vinyl chloride cause liver cancer ament workers, but depending on length of exposure, it has also been an own to increase the risk of cancer of the lung, lymphatic system, brain, and urinary organs. In response to this situation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has propose 1 a standard allowing no detectable level of vinyl chloride in factory air. The American plastics industry has stated that should this proposed rule be implemented it would cost the nation up to 2.2 million jobs and as much as $90 billion in annual production. Vinyl chloride manufacturing werxe vs i-.'e not the only one s endangered by exposure tc vinyl c.iloride The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced last week that it will brn the use cf vinyl chloride in aerosol hou sehold products. In issuing the ban, the Commission pointer' V--;' that "consumers av-: always subject to inhalation of the subs tanee whenever they use aerosols that contain it. And there is r.o known safe exposure level." ihe environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency order on.April 24 to halt the sals t^ cans cf pesticide sprays containing vinyl chloride. In addition, EPA is currently exam -'ling the possibility that vinyl chloride emissions in thu atm phere surrounding manufacturing plants rose a hazard to people living near the plants. The Food and Drug Adm inistrstiur lias banned the use cf virr/l chloride at a prone 11 ant in cosmetic and drug containers, The FIA is currently evalua t_ng the need fc r restricting the use of vinyl chloride for f ood packaging ma terials. An obvious conclusion is the need to evaluate chemicals and dangerous substances before people are exuosed tc them. Since vinyl chlcride has been around for so long, banning 3 :-ov; would cause drastic dislocation in the plastics industry. The Congress currently is working on legislation dealing vath the pre-market testing and approval of toxic substances before they- can inflict death or illness. I believe it Is essential, and 1 hope the bearing record compiled today will oacK this up, t.iat we establish some orderly, coiupreheiisi system for evalu?ting substances before we're confronted with a Hobson choice between protecting health or preserving jber. BOH 273S