Document v7J1YYZnN0yNz5y2VR41Ek7Y

Ky Pates - Woninto Manufacture of 2,4,5-TlcMorophepol 19491953 19491969 12/78 Manufacture litro initiated. Autoclave rupture disc blows, eposlog 114 people to the reaction mixture. A number of cases of chloracne resulted. Dr. Eaymood Suskind, a recognised ds ratato log leal expert now asaoclatad with tba Kettering Institute in Cincinnati, axes Inad 37 of tha workers Involved la tba 1949 incident. Sons 116 people involved in manufacture of 2,4.5-T ware exaeload over tha years by dermatologists in relation to ch loracne complaints. Tba 2,4,5-T plant was shot down in 1969. 0 Dioxins, a known by-product of 2,4,5-T manufacture, were identified as causative agents for chloracne. The 2,4,5-T unit was dlcsmntled by outside contractors and disposed of in a buried dump. A dioxin accident at the Roche plant in Seveso, Italy spread material over a broad area and created an international incident (dioxins are new alleged to cause long-term health effects, including cancer). Suskind contacted Monsanto and requested permission to do a follow-up study on tha group involved in the 1949 itro accident. *' - The Environmental Policy Committee approved Dr. KcCarvllle'a recommendation to initiate an epidemiological study of the exposed Vitro personnel in cooperation with Dr. Suskind. Work began oo this iammdiately. International officers of the Steelworkers' Onion (which represents Vitro empl *es) contacted Monsanto to communicate their interest in doing a health study oo the personnel Involved in the 1949 incident and 2,4,5-T manufacture, and to request medical records and other data on tha employee involved. 1/79 Sellkoff asked Suskind if ha would cooperate in Monsanto study. X, lAftMtft* o* * ,* * * --i s Neshfi ^ilowtn> a#"*n . ****,m o ,o* m * ( 191171.1701 Or. George Roush, Jr. Nodical Dirsctor Monsanto Chaaical Company 00 North Lindbergh Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 3166 Z was pleased to have the chance to talk with you on the phone. Snclosed is a list of 37 employees who were examined by us in the period from 1949 to 1953. Four of the most severely involved (Zval McClanahan, Jesse J. Steele, Paul Willard, and J.A. Hurley) were in at the Holmes Hospital by myself and Bill Ashe at the request of Emmet Kelly. Since many of the group in the attached list were in their 20's and 30's when we saw them, 1 would not be suprised that some of them are still employed at Monsanto and others continue to live in the Uitro, West Virginia area and be accessible. Our interest in following these cases is of course stimulated by our greater knowledge regarding the toxicologic effects of TCOD. How ever, the one substantial gap in our scientific knowledge is the possible long term effects of such exposures and whether the risk for a variety of common ailments of man is altered by TCDD exposure. A systematic retrospective epidemiologic study of this group might be quite time consuming and require a considerable amount of record review, we would certainly be willing to supply both the manpower and support for such a study. Z do hope that your explorations in this matter bear fruit. I deeply appreciate any help you can give us in this matter. Best personal regards. Sincerely, RRS/bmr end. Raymond R. Suskind, M.D. , * ' 8329633 j /A - **y Pates - Monsanto Manufacture of 2.4.5-T -2- ' 2/2/79 4 Within tha pest V H k the Steelworkers' Onion has stated they plan to bring a taaai of eight doctor* into Cbarlaston oo April 6-8 to examine all involved parsonnal willing to cooparata. The atody will ba dona with tha cooparation of Dr. Sellkoff of M t . Sinai Boapltal. Partial raaulta from tha Honanto-Su*kind apidaaiological tody ondarway ainca 9/78 indicata no causa for concarn ' in tha pattern of 30 doatba in tha group of 114. Suskind haa voluntaarad to do a *ora intensiva health study oo all exposed parsonnal beginning in March at an estimated coat of f60,000-$75,000. 1. Monsanto proceed, in cooparation with Dr. Suskind, to complete the epideaiologleal study started last September. 2. Monsanto-Suakind meet with Union representatives in February to review our past actions and present the protocol for tha more intensive examinations of the involved parsonnal planned in March. Ideally, tha Union would agree to suspend their program pending results of this tody -- but odds of this are considered low. 3. Proceed with two independent reviews of the involved personnel, with the Suskind study starting in March. Dae A. Hiller 2/5/79 8325M;: