Document x3won8gnQX423D46QEOMwnkg

D. H. Marshall A. L. Hatfield M^,'J0i-/O4 *4 Volanela, Venezuela Cleveland Fab. 11, 1974 Dear Don, Inelaaad plaaaa find a copy of a latCar which m want jroa to and oat to all of year vinyl product cuetoners In B.F.Goodrich Chanieal da Tanaaoala. This letter la being sent oat to all cuatoaora of B.F.Goodrich Chewlcal worldwide. Flaaaa do not ralaaaa to cuatcnera until Friday, February IS, 1974. We would Ilka you to naka ianadiata naa of tbla lattar la tha tazt provided and give oa a Hat of all cttatcaars who received the lattar. Thla should raealva high priority attantlon. ALH/cak Enclosure cc: B.F.Kannay W .C.Backar-Akron M.tf.Laraon F.J.Weevwr VQQQSLfrZ BFG34115 A. Mata Blanco A. t. Hatfield San Joae, Coata (lea C lava land 'V Fab. U, 1974 Dear Al, Saclowed please (lad a copy o( a lattar which wa want you to aaad eat t all of your vinyl produet custoaera la B.7.Goodrich Quiaiea da Coat* llu. Thla lattar la being aaot oat to all cuatouora of B.F.Goodrich Cbaadeal worldwide. Haase da aot ralaaaa to cuatoaara until Friday, February 15, 1974. Ha would Ilka you to aaka lauedlate oaa of thla lattar la the tost provided and give ua a liat of all cuatoaera who racaivad the lattar. Thla ahould raeaiva high priority attention. AUS/eak Enclosure cc: R.F.Kenaey W.C.Becker-Akroo M.V.larson ^r_ r.J.Weaver BFG34U6 February 11, 1974 Mr. Ivan Back* Mlejpd, S.A. Apartade Postal 53-034 Mexico City 17, D.F. Saar Ina, Too will find enclosed a lattar which B.F.Goodrich Chaarteal Co. ia seeding to all of oor ewstcawrs throughout tha world for oor vinyl product*. Ttia text of this lattar baa baaa carafnlly coeaidarad by our Maaagaawnt and Corporate Legal staff. We are providing you this lattar so that if it ia, ia your opinion, la tha boat interests of Pelicyd to utilize such a latter, you eight utilise tha taxt that at have provided. It is, of course, your prerogative if you wish to utilise such a letter for your custoawra. However, if you do use tba taxt, we salt that you not release it until Friday, February 15, 1974. 9a would like to be aware of your course of action in this regard. Cordially yours. AlB/cak cc: I.FJkmqr W.C.Backar-Akron M.W.Larson P. J.Veaver A. L. Hatfield I BFG34117 Dear Sir: On January 23, 1974, a public statement was released by The B.F.Goodrich Company concerning our investigation of the deaths of three employees at our Louisville, Ky. plant from a rare form of liver cancer, and the possible connections between these deaths and their work over a number of years in our PVC polymerization operations. Later search of available medical records revealed that a fourth employee Had died from the same cause, angiosarcoma of the liver, in 1968. At the time of issuing our first statement on January 23, B.F.Goodrich pro vided all data we had at that time to the Kentucky Department of Labor, re presentative of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These agencies are currently investigating these cases, are carrying out industry-wide epidemiological studies, and are in contact with European govern ments with major PVC industries. We are continuing to cooperate fully with these agencies. Also cooperating with the government are 19 producers of vinyl chloride monomer and PVC under sponsorship of the Manufacturing Chemists Association, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. This group is sponsoring lengthy and in-depth toxicological and epidemiological studies on vinyl chloride and workers. As yet no definite connection has been established between these four angiosar coma cases and any of the some 50 chemicals which may have been used in poly merization of PVC or its compounds at our Louisville plant. Vinyl chloride monomer, a chlorinated hydrocarbon, is a primary suspect due to the fact it is a major raw material of high volatility to which our employees have probably had the greatest exposure. It should be pointed out that study of medical records at our other five plants have revealed no similar cases, and no others in the United States have been reported. As you may know, some residual unpolymerized vinyl chloride monomer remains in commercial polyvinyl chloride polymers and compounds. The levels in Geon resins, plastics and latexes range from virtually undectable levels to those high enough to suggest the possibility of detectable vapor concentrations in closed storage or in some processing steps, such as heated mixing equipment. BFG34118 fQva&Lvz We are in no position to determine if the manner in which our vinyl products are used and stored in your plant constitute a potential problem since these operations are not under our control. We do, however, suggest that you review your own operational procedures and take appropriate action. We would like to point out that the present investigations are confined to polymerization operations where the amount of vinyl chloride, the starting monomer, is much higher than it would be in any process we know involving finished polymer or compounds. In our plants we have reduced exposure to levels below 50ppm of vinyl chloride. It is not the intent of this memorandum to state that the cause of angiosar coma of the liver is exposure to vinyl chloride monomer but to point out to our customers that small, variable amounts of this raw material remain in the polymer in unchanged form and that it is one of the suspected chemicals. We will do our best to keep you informed on this subject as investigations proceed. Sincerely, R. P. Kenney Vice President - International BFG34119 2473QQ05 We are in no position to determine if the manner in which our vinyl products are used and stored in your plant constitute a potential problem since these operations are not under our control. We do, however, suggest that you review your own operational procedures and take appropriate action. We would like to point out that the present investigations are confined to polymerization operations where the amount of vinyl chloride, the starting monomer, is much higher than it would be in any process we know involving finished polymer or compounds. In our plants we have reduced exposure to levels below 50ppm of vinyl chloride. It is not the intent of this memorandum to state that the cause of angiosar coma of the liver is exposure to vinyl chloride monomer but to point out to our customers that small, variable amounts of this raw material remain in the polymer in unchanged form and that it is one of the suspected chemicals. We will do our best to keep you informed on this subject as investigations proceed. Sincerely, R. P. Kenney Vice President - International BFG34120