Document wqOqpe0ogXRDqXg0Zxp7LQ5mV

COLUMSfA, MO. TRIBUNE D. 14,600 SEP 41976 . . . ........ Monsanto study shows high employe cancer rate ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A higher then nor mal Incidence of lung cancer hm been found among deceased employes who had once worked at the Monsanto..Co. plant producing polycholorlnated biphenyls (PCBs), the firm announced. However, Monsanto officials said the findings wore prcllmlnaryand a full in* vcsllgallon would not be completed for another IS to 16 months. Dr. George Roush, director of Monsan to's medical and environmental health department, said there Is no Indication that the pretence of the cancer was related to PCBs. , ' The Monsanto study la based on a review of the records of more than 300 current and former employes at Its sole PCB product* Ion unit at Sauget, III,, since 1930. Roush said Monsanto was able to Iden tify 00 former employes who ha ve died and that seven of these persons had lung cancer. This compares with 2.7 cases that would be expected according to National Cancer Institute statistics, he said. Monsanto also said its study has found no cases of malignant melanoma or pan* creatic cancer among current or former employes of the unit. A recent Mobil Oil Corp. study reported finding three cases of melanoma and two cases of pancreatic cancer among 7t employes who had been exposed to a PCB Rroduct while working at a Mobil plant In ew Jersey. Roush said the absence of (he mallgnan* des In Monsanto's study at the Sauget plant "casts strong doubt that the findings of the Mobil study were In fact related to PCB." PCBs. the fire-resistant chemicals used mainly as Insulating fluids in electrical equipment, have been termed a significant health hasard by the Environmental Pro tection Agency. . Monsanto, the only American manufac turer of PCBs, announced in January it Intends to phase out production of the, chemicals. . _/ MONS 035211