Document rVrNXJadLxKNxNYkpRDjNkm7

Monsanto y Mi- '^^me-location-phonei Sarah G. Collins - A3ND OAT SUBJECT November 2, 1982 REFERENCE TO R. T. Berendt E2ND T. M. Bistline E2ND L. J. Boesch B2SC D. S. Frazer 1670 H. M. Galloway 1670 V. T. Matteucci B2SC W. J. McCarville G3WG 2 1982 (4-3860) cc. D . R. Bishop C. F. Callis B3CA W. R. Gaffey G2WE J. F. Hussey G. D. Ingenthron J. T. Nolan G. Roush G2WG E. Tillman G2WF Attached is a draft news release and prepardness Q/A on *Suskind's health effects study. Please review and let me have your comments by Wednesday afternoon, 11/3/82. Thanks. * SGC:ue Attachments Sarah G. Collins CONFIDENTIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. C14144 NEWS FOR RELEASE IMMEDIATELY DRAFT/Suskind Study Monsanto Sarah G. Collins (314) 694-3860 PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT Monsanto Company *8 0 0 N.. L i n d b e r g h B o u le v a rd SI. Louis, Missouri 63167 REPORT.FAILS TO., FIND LINK'BETWEEN TCDD AND REPORTED HEALTH PROBLEMS V n n v ST. LOUIS', NOV. 00 -- A study on the long term health effects of worker exposure found no link between exposure to the dioxin TCDD and several physical diseases and disorders including- cancer', cardiovascular and reproductive abnormalities. ..The health effect study, which required three years of (analysis, was conducted by Raymond Suskind, M.D., one of the world's leading experts onjdioxin- exposure-,--at the University of Cincinnati's Department of Environmental Health. .TCDD, a contaminent found in a herbicide component of Agent Orange, is at the center of a controversy over the health ef fectS4^ a f ^ g e n f e ^ r ^ g e ^ x p . s w e a s' on Vietnam veterans. ......... ,,lfrSUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. According to Dr. Suskind, there is no evidence of ^identifiable") long term effects on the cardiovascular system, Including hypertension or coronary artery disease, liver, gastro intestinal tract or peripheral nerve function attributable to exposure to the chemical. There is also no indicationr-^srsed--uir-- -personal -his-toricad-information-^ of greater risks for miscarriages, stillbirths or birth defects among the families in which the miale parent was exposed to TCDD. Additionally, Dr. Suskind did not find a*-- afcmuimally high daricei-- rate among the study participants. t- Jt- P & l- CU*,' ~ ./7 / 7 - more - C 'jS-'O C - C . . T V L L*-C-r C14145 However, Dr. Suskind did conclude that for employees exposed to TCDD, there were'long term skin effects including chloracne,the hallmark of TCDD exposure, and the loss of skin elasticity around the areas affected by chloracne. Dr. Suskind examined 418 current and former male employees of Monsanto Company that produced the herbicide 2,4,5-T at its West Virginia plant between 1948 and 1969. -Dtr Jial, buun idunliJrlea as a ~contami*flHnL"-in' the production- of-- 2 ^4 ,b-TT The employees involved in Dr. Suskind1s study included workers who had been exposed to-TCDD" during a 1949 manufacturing accident in the 2,4,5-T unit as well as those who worked -with the herbicide over the years. This health effects study is the second major study conducted by Dr. Suskind on Monsanto's West Virginia employees. In 1980, he co-authored a report on the mortality (cause of death) of employees who had been exposed to TCDD during the 2,4,5-T accident in 1949. The results of that investigation indicated no excess in total deaths or in deaths from cancer or cardiovascular disease. Dr. Suskind recently presented a review of his health effects study at the Third International Symposium on Chlorinated Dioxins and Related Compounds in Salzburg, Austria. Nr if A If "JXh\iT I .1A L . SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. - more - C14146 -3- 2,4,5-T was a component of Agent Orange, a defoliant used by U.S. military forces during the Vietnam War. Dr. Suskind's latest study on the long term effects of TCDD exposure supports the majority of medical and scientific data which has failed to show a cause/effect relationship between Agent Orange exposure and health problems reported by Vietnam veterans. :1'*f"*| i/ \/*>T lO uJ o '!>J i n v e s t i e r s t ! o n m ein c a r e d n o e x c e s s m t o t ? * i. r i ^ a r n s o r i n r ie ^ t n ^ ti ^ i ! S * ir ! tT* ' I I -- ; J. : ` 1 l I i I 1 - 1 < -- j COKTM '~14L SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. C14T47 V" NEWS FOR RELEASE IMMEDIATELY DRAFT/Suskind Study (314) 694-3860 PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT Monsanto Company 8 0 0 N. L ind b e rgh B o u lev a rd St. Louis. Missouri 63167 REPORT FAILS TO FIND LINK BETWEEN TCDD AND REPORTED HEALTH PROBLEMS ST. LOUIS, NOV. 00 -- A study on the long term health of worker exposure found no link between exposure to the dioxin TCDD^and several physical diseases and disorders " " ---includingvcancel:, cardiovascularjvand reproductive abnormalities. The- health ir_nqn4i-ri th"f i" ,L..I'1 irf 'I was conducted by Raymond A._uskind, M.D., one of the world s leading experts^on^dioxin exposure, at the University of Cincinnati's Department of Environmental Health. jrDD, a-cor.fr^m nrnt *0?1 tv- hprK * do rvT"rrrgngri*7-- Lc-- at-.-the center of a--contioversy'^bvef the~trgaTttr~gffect'g*^cyf~A`ggirtr"CTlra'iigy eApoaurL. ^ here is protective o r d e r . o-^N ^ o titifiable* long-term effects on the cardiovascular system, l h c Ludin^sshypertension or coronary artery disease, liverJ.gastro _ A li intestinal trat_e-t^or*^*peripheral nerve function attributable to exposure to the phemi-c^l, NidVId<j0-f vVCti\(&J A'i 1 There is also no indication, based on <At- I, of greater risks for^miscarriages, stillbirths or birth defects among^ the families in which the \ male parent was exposed to TCDD. Additionally, Dr, Suskind did '.K-t i:ind^an abrnMnwally fe^fh cancer rat^&moncT r.lus stcudy participants - more - C1414 'r - 2-1 'Kc by-producji j^c/utAct_____ ____________ I However, Dr. 'Suskind dfld conclude that for ..employees" exposed'to TCDD, there were long term skin effects including chloracneythe hallmark of TCDD exposure, and the loss .of skin elasticity around the areas affected by chloracne. Dr. Suskind examined 41l8o currrreenntt: anad rformer marle . - | uUCrrffcr-^o luJiL-vc Air employees of Monsanto Company\ t-hhaatt proodduucceedd-the herbicide u 2,4,5-T at its West Virginia p^Lant between 194 8 and 1969. -- -gDD hac been1 identified as-- a contaminant in the produu liun of -C3" -5 >4 , 5 The employees involved \ n Dr. Suskind* s study .nfeiuu)C\ prudjE^i o f included workers who "had been exposed toTTCDDj during a 1949 $ rESJ (X ^o g ml is, " manufacturing accident-in the-2,4,5-T unit.as well as those who \v\ {PfoAodrWi of 1! ' worked w4s*Jthe herbicideover .-the-years. " -- -- * - This health'effects study is the second major study /h (iti+AtyjuU 'conducted by D r ."SuskindAon Monsanto *s 'West-'Vifginia employees. * Iri..~1980he co-authored a report on .the mortality -(cause'of death) of employees who had been exposed during the 2,4,5-T accident in 1949. The results of that f c , e , ^investigation--indicated no excess fin total deaths or in deaths gS from cancer or cardiovascular disease. CQ r> Dr. Suskind recently presented'a review of his health co effects -study-at-the-Third-International Symposium on- : ... - Chlorinated Dioxins and Related Compounds in Salzburg, Austria. fa ***! ^ A a J u t l ' ll*'1 * , M 0 '' J tL , , , , ,y f'.'i i f r J n f r i f r J f '- V hg / L o b ' ^ ^ c M i b , Jjri\ (- fj/y'A*--) isP+ /) t C14149 -3- 2,4,5-T was a component of Agent Orange, a defoliant used by U.S. military forces during the Vietnam War. Dr. Suskind's latest "'"id" ~n ifchr ^irm nffn~tn T _ '' M'^ _______ supportG fchi* mnjrirfil iri,fr ntbdicaT-and ocr-entif ic. uM-u. / ^ f 1~h u I. - v p . 1 n ii i o Tvnh-i-.fi, h n > ' m p n expnrm-re nnrij h001 1~=r"g--rcrortad_ by-=3fcBfeiam fr^ 4 v LXnfl l ^ o p v * ct - -- <^d o. ^118 #-/. AJ-te.ksv^dCCLt-z Jwo/t) (kt> cil > k^ChMAJ^bJcP. 70 frr Om J) /yvJksCtJ? - tfs'i/wc Cjyuj^ O a f ,er^ JLL. A J - 0 ~ J u l i JU) JifyjZZsK, ^X-jifzMAS-s j M y - C ' b ^ U L ^ P J J i ^ W 6^-,/a U. ($)/\ Al~(/-- j u X L t l J - Q ^ > ?^=ez~ AJLfafi -fuL /j C O N n;T=i i "Ti. 7 'i ,A SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDE& C14150 DRAFT Q/A 11/1/82 Q/A " Suskind.Health EIffects -Study r^ ~ t. p.jf: .r it 1. Q. Did Dr. Suskind receive any money from Monsanto for his study? A. Yes, he did. The study was also supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the U.S. Public Health Service as well as the University of Cincinnati's Institute of ** "Environmental Health. 2. Q. How pan the 'study be viewed''as imjparti&r if . , ,,Monsanto helped .pay for it? * A. X , Dr. Suskind is one of the world's leading experts on dioxin exposure. To doubt the validity of the study1:results because of Monsanto' s funding is to impugn the reputation of a respected medical ' and scientific expert. 3. ~ Q. f How-many -employees.were involved in -the study? / A. There were 418 white male employees in three groups relating to 2,4,5-T exposure? 204 in exposed population; 163 not exposed and 51 of questionable exposure. SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. C 14151 4. Q. How come there are no minorities or women? A. There were minority and female employees involved in both the 2,4,5-T production history and the 1949 accident. However, the number was not large enough to allow a valid study and therefore, they were not included. 5. Q. Would their inclusion make any difference in the results? No. What effect does the health study have on pending litigation against Monsanto? The study results support Monsanto's position that its employees involved in 2,4,5-T production or in the 1949 accident have not experienced long-term health effects other than chloracne. As Monsanto stated when the lawsuit was filed (March '81), it does not believe the plaintiffs' charges have any merit and that the company will be vindicated. Wasn't 2,4,5-T used in Vietnam? A. 2,4,5-T was a component of Agent Orange, a defoliant used by U.S. military forces between 1962 and 1971 in Vietnam. 2,4,5-T and its contaminant 2,3,7,8-TCDD veteran's alleged health effects of exposure to Agent Orange.- The Suskind health effects study is yet another medical report which supports the majority of health and scientific data that has failed to find a cause/effect relationship between Agent Orange exposure and the health problems reported by Vietnam veterans. SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. C14152 *8 i r.'O'** ( X.i-~ ' i : .v a ' f i . :! j -.V What happened at your plant in 1949? A. In .March of 19,49., .an accident occurred in the 2,4,5-T unit exposing those present and those later involved in the clean-up to potentially hazardous amounts of the chemical and its dioxin contaminant, 2,3,7-8 TCDD. Approximately 121 employees developed chloroacne, eye and respiratory tract irritation, headache, dizziness, nausea and liver disorder. These employees all received medical treatment after the accident for their exposurerelated conditions. All symptons, except some cases of chloracne, disappeared within several months. 9. Q. How long was Monsanto in the 2,4,5-T business? A. Monsanto manufactured 2,4,5-T between 1948 and 1969 when it discontinued production for economic reasons.. oOo - i V t-; U Y / * i : '1 1 s u b j e c t TO PROTECTIVE O0 RDER. 1 C14153