Document rpjM87dNdBG0pze1e8JBvyjvV

I Ponca City, Oklahoma May 15, 1980 REPORT OF MEETING VCM Technical Panel RECEIVED MAY 2 01980 CONOCO CHEMICALS May 14, 1980 - Washington, D.UT'. CMA called a meeting of the VCM Technical Panel on May 14, 1980 to discuss the results from a pathological examination of all animal brains saved from the Industrial BioTest Laboratory (1BT) VCM exposure study. The action steps are listed below; nothing was found to change the earlier conclusions from the study. The enclosed reports by Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc. and Bob West Associates, Inc. will be sent to Frank D. Kover of the EPA per the earlier CMA mailing of March 19, 1980. The pathology report concludes the IBT animal exposure tests provide only qualitative information due to the shortcomings of the experimental procedures, and do confirm Maltoni's data. CMA will advise Kover that no additional work is contemplated. The West report, a third party expert, concludes the IBT study was con ducted in an extremely sloppy fashion and provides results of a qualitative rather than a quantitative nature. There are several discrepancies noted which may be of significant value to the CMA lawyers regarding recovery of money from IBT for work improperly performed. A complete set of reports from the March 19, 1980 and May 16, 1980 mail ings to Kover will be provided 0SHA, NI0SH, NCI, FDA, CSPC, and Kostel of EPA with a cover letter indicating "for their information, the enclosed reports have been sent to Frank D. Kover of EPA." The panel was also advised CMA has been sued for $2 MM damages in Louisiana by an individual who was exposed to acrylonitrile (CH2=CH-CN) and then was diagnosed as having cancer. CMA is purportedly to blame because CMA with held data regarding the carcinogenic nature of vinyl chloride (CH2=CH-C1) in 1973. It is a preposterous situation but nonetheless CMA will be involved and have retained the New Orleans firm of Liskow and Lewis (Barry St. John) CMA counsel estimated the court costs could approach $100 M and CMA will ask member companies represented on the VCM Panel to provide the necessary financial support. General Counsel for each of the member companies will receive a mailing soon with several documents related to this case. I will advise Andy McColpin by phone of the general situation to minimize surprising top management. I Fiynt Nenneay Manager Chemicals Research Division lm Distribution: J.J.Ha 11-C.L.Whet stone-W.D.Brodd1e-V.Moore DTH 0ll8l39