Document qdyrpvNLO9b95kooeRwgk9nwk

i t. - o-. (OMMllSlONt* nf S>Tiii 3miry DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH JONN PITCH PLAIA P.O. SOX 13-0, TRSNTON. N.J. C8625 September 3, 1931 Mr. Janes C. Shriver Monsanto 750 Worcester Street Springfield, MA. 01151 Dear Mr. Shriver: I have enclosed a copy cf two mortality studies on Monsanto employees at the Indian Orchard plant. These studies have just been completed under my supervision by graduate students in epidemiology at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. These studies indicate increased mortality from cancer among employ ees who previously worked polymerising or fabricating vinyl chloride. Since none of the previous studies done on employees at your facility have investigated disease by work area, the enclosed results are unique in that they enable you to examine mortality in two specific areas of your plant. This type of work needs to be dene for all departments in order to determine if any areas of the plant are high risk areas. By looking at the mortality experience throughout the whole plant as has been done by the study you commissioned from the University of Pitts burgh, the results in high risk areas such as vinyl chloride are diluted by areas without risk, and .the overall results do not give a true picture of the risk of disease to your workers. If one were interested in making engineering improvements tc decrease exposures one would need to know in which areas this was necessary. Only a mortality study by work area would 'supply the type of information needed to pinpoint work areas. I am no longer with the University of Massachusetts but have taken a new position in new Jersey. If you have -any questions about the enclosed report you can reach me at (609) 934-1863. KDR:ap Enc Director of Occupational and Environmental Health Services RSV 0020620