Document wEEY783BeeRyyxaBa82pjZZQ

From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attach: Lorraine Twerdok <Twerdokl@api.org> Wednesday, September 25,20029:38 PM (GMT) Red Cavaney <Rcavaney@api.org> Howard Feldman <Feldman@api.org>; Bill Frick <Frick@api.org>; Benzene consort comm (E-mail) <benzconsort-cc@api.org>; Benzene consort tech (E-mail) <benzconsort-tc@api.org>; Benzene OC listserve (E-mail) <BenzConsortOC@api.org>; Velma Scott <Scottv@api.org> Benzene Consortium briefing paper China Benzene Paper API Exec Comm 10-14-02 FINAL.doc China Benzene Paper API Exec Comm 10-14-02 FINAL.doc Red, here is the exec. committee briefing paper for your review. Sorry it took so long - lorraine SH ELL-MCCLU RG-OS4900 For Information Attachment C API Executive Committee Issue: Continued funding shortfall for the industry-sponsored research project in China to study the potential health effects of benzene. Background: There is continued concern with the potential health effects of benzene. Approximately three years ago, industry researchers became aware of information maintained by the Chinese government in Shanghai regarding benzene exposures of workers and their health histories. Given the high quality of the occupational exposure records in Shanghai, this is viewed as a unique opportunity to study the relationship between exposure to benzene and the risk of certain blood diseases. The Benzene Health Consortium is sponsoring a five-year program that should significantly decrease the degree of uncertainty surrounding these risks. There is a significant degree of support for this project within China as evidenced by the active participation of Chinese researchers, physicians and occupational regulatory agencies. Independent multinational, multidisciplinary scientific and ethics review panels have been involved in protocol development and will actively participate in overseeing the project. The study will provide industry and the scientific and regulatory communities with information in order to more accurately assess the risks from exposure to benzene, enhancing product stewardship. Project Status: Three inter-related studies are underway: 1. Case-Control Epidemiology Study 2. Disease Progression Study 3. Molecular Epidemiology Study Renovation of space for a clinical hematology laboratory at Fudan University in Shanghai is complete. Purchase and installation of capital equipment is underway and intensive training of Chinese laboratory technicians is in progress. The laboratory startup activities are on track to be able to begin processing samples from study participants in the 151 quarter of 2003. Previous and current Shanghai workplace exposures are being evaluated and training of exposure assessment technicians is underway. Legal and public affairs expertise has been retained to facilitate Consortium activities. Funding status: Five companies have provided initial funding for the study. These companies (BP, ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell Chemical Company) have committed $16.5 million. Based on the protocol enhancements recommended by the independent scientific and ethics review panels, the Consortium Business Oversight Committee approved a $22.8 million program. To address the shortfall, other US and non-US companies within the petroleum industry, chemical sector, and non-petrochemical industries have been approached. To date, no additional entities have joined. The Consortium members are currently executing a plan drafted in September to approach additional companies by the end of 2002. Despite the planned efforts, the likelihood of identifying additional sponsors to cover the shortfall is believed to be small. Therefore, we anticipate the need to seek additional SHELL-MCCLURG-054901 guidance from the Executive Committee in early 2003 on ways to address the funding shortfall. SH ELL-MCCLU RG-054902