Document wg53Yx8Dm3EMagGOrkbjgKrx4

RECEIVED APR 041974 R. N. WHEELER, JR. UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION - CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS Bound Brook, New Jersey To: Hr. C. J. Brounstein - Chicago Mr. R. A. DeCoudres/E. B. Sharp - BB Mr. R. E. Graebert - SCTC Dr. A. B. Steele - NY-28 Mr. A. A. Stella - Chicago Mr. R. N. Wheeler - SC / April 1, 1974 Re: MCA Meeting March 1, 1974 Attached for your Information are the minutes of a special MCA meeting called at the request of Borden, Inc. to determine the need for an Industry-wide program to gather valid data on the thermal decomposition products of PVC film resin formulations and their effect on worker health. As the minutes indicate, a definite need was felt to exist and a special Task Force has been formed to reconmend a program for MCA sponsorship and industry support. To date our only Involvement In this activity has been my attendance at this initial meeting. Once the research program is defined, we can decide the extent to which we ;ish to participate. JDB:mts Attached ucc 037613 Manufacturing Chemist iatiorr TECHNICAL MEETlNCL-GirTHBEMAL DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS / OF /POLYVINYL CHLORIDE FILMS MCA Conference Rom--------^ Washington March 1, 1974 RECORD OF MEETING PRESENT: W. V. Andresen J. D. Baker Frank Barbuscio W. E. Barr Paul Beebe, Jr. R. Burkhart R. E. Byrne J. J. Connor Tom Connor A. S. Cummin A. S. D*Amato R. S. Detrick K. W. Easley G. E. Field T. M. Finnegan R. W. Frank F. C. Gregory L. Gross R. W. Gutheil D. E. Harrington Richard Henderson L. E. Ice G. W. Ingle E. J. Jacob D. G. James W. W. Kocher Bruno Krueger Max Miller R. C. Parsons American Cyanamid Company Union Carbide Corporation American Cyanamid Company The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Reynolds Metals Company Clopay Corporation Polyvinyl Films, Inc. Polyvinyl Films, Inc. Borden, Inc. Borden, Inc. Koppers Company, Inc. Monsanto Industrial Chemicals Company Filmco Filmco Ferro Corporation Ethyl Corporation Tenneco Chemicals, Inc. Borden, Inc. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Olin Corporation Diamond Shamrock Corporation Monsanto Company Filmco Borden Chemical Division of Borden, Inc. Borden, Inc. Borden Chemical Division of Borden, Inc. Ethyl Corporation Reynolds Metals Company i inn 037614 Technical Meeting on Thermal Decomposition Products of Polyvinyl Chloride Films Record of March 1, 1974 Meeting Page Two PRESENT (cont.): P. M. Peltz W. E. Rinehart E. E. Sandmeyer J. P. Stallings M. F. Tarker, Jr. H. J. Trochimowicz Delbert Volchko J. A. Yourtee B. M. Barackman A. C. Clark K. D. Johnson H. L. Slatin F. G. Stephenson Diamond Shamrock Corporation Ethyl Corporation Gulf Oil Corporation Chemetron Corporation FMC Corporation E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Filmco FMC Corporation MCA MCA MCA MCA MCA Mr. A. C. Clark convened the meeting at 10:00 AM. After he had briefly summarized the background for this meeting, and after those present had identified themselves and their companies, Mr. R. W. Gutheil, of Borden, Inc., was appointed chairman pro tem. Mr. Gutheil recounted the increasing attention to the problem of alleged respiratory tract irritation in food packagers with exposure to the fumes generated in the hot wire cutting and heat sealing of polyvinyl chloride films. He stressed the concern of industry that incomplete and in accurate information was receiving wide dissemination and generating undue concern among both employees working with this material and the general public.He indicated particular concern that the public and the unions were confusing the problem, if any,-of PVC frilm emissions andTMthat of the risk df 'Angiosarcoma experienced^by workers in the PVC poly mer 12 afe io*nrJihdu st rv. An informal poll of the companies represented at this meeting revealed that there was widespread interest in setting up an industry funded effort to generate valid data "n tne nature and extent of the problem, and of routes to its ucc 037615 Technical Meeting on Thermal Decomposition Products of Polyvinyl Chloride Films Record of March 1, 1974 Meeting Page Three solution. Although commitments of support by a number of the companies were conditioned upon the ability of the group to develop acceptable plans and protocols for the project, it was evident that the great majority of those companies represented were interested in participation in a broad and meaningful investigation of the technical and communications problems faced by the manufacturers of film resins and their formulators and fabricators. It was moved to define the mission and scope of the proposed project as follows: _ ~" (1) a study of the decomposition products from polyvinyl chloride film resin formulations under heating short of ignition or combustion, and (2) a study of the health effects# if any, of such products as influenced by the various temperature, humidity, or other environmental factors attendant upon the processing and uses of the film resin formulations. The motion was discussed in detail, and a number of motions to amend were offered and rejected. It was the consensus that the scope and mission of the project should be kept focused on the physical chemistry and industrial ' hygiene problems associated with plasticized PVC films under conditions associated with their formulation, fabrication, and use in their intended applications, and that it should not be broadened at this time to allow inclusion"of potential ^ occupational health effects associated with the~molding, extrusion, or use application of rigid sheets, ~pipe' and* tubing, and other "fabricated items. A motion to amend item (1) of the original motion, by striking the phrase after heating, and inserting in its place the corresponding phrase from item (2) "attendant upon processing and uses of film resin formulations" carried, and the motion so amended was approved by voice vote. It was agreed to name a small group to develop detailed recommendations for those elements of the project necessary for consideration by potential supporters of a research project and subsequent presentation to the MCA Board with any request for their approval of MCA administration of the project. These would include: ucc 037616 Technical Meeting on Thermal Decomposition Products of Polyvinyl Chloride Films Record of March 1, 1974 Meeting Page Four (1) Mission- and scope (2) Recommended research projects, with protocols and budgets (3) Proposed bases for allocation of project costs among its sponsors. The following companies volunteered to provide representatives to the group: Borden, Inc Filmco (R. J. Reynolds) Diamond Shamrock Corporation Ethyl Corporation Reynolds Metals Company The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Clopay Corporation Monsanto Company (tentative) Tenneco Chemicals, Inc. (tentative) The first meeting of the group was scheduled for 10:00 AM, Wednesday, March 6, 1974. Subsequent to the adjournment of the meeting. Dr. K. D. Johnson, MCA staff representative, arranged for the meeting to be held at the DuPont Plaza Hotel, in the Gallery Room. Respectfully submitted Kenneth D. Johnson, Ph.D. Assistant Technical Director KDJ:mb Record Subject to Approval March 28, 1974