Document x56GzKLbZyRV60pKjJOBvmy4Q

J. V. WAGGONER R. E. KELLY Attached copy of my memo is for your information -raveling in like company. A*... .... J. V. Waggoner *Sv 0009167 011-1966-00003925 Hlliliniiin V.nyl CNr,d< BipUlPrecwt Innovations LitigMum b^port St. Louis General Offices Y F. E. Reese L. V.\ Sessions January 6, 1966 . L. Williams C. L. Knowles B. F. Goodrich Chemical-- J. M. Chamberlin PVC Health Problem i Mr. Proc Avon PA VON Confidential This will record some of the comments made to me by Harry V/araer, Corporate Vice President of B. F. Goodrich and ex President of B. F. Goodrich Chemical, in the Cleveland airport mid-December concerning their health problem involving PVC. In addition to merely confirming the seriousness with which Goodrich management considers their health problem with PVC, Mr. Warner stated that not only had they observed the severe dermatitis problem now showing more serious effect in some employees' hands, including some drawing and fixation of the joints of the hands, but that they are also concerned that some effect can be detected to employees who have never been involved specifically with the cleaning of the interior of their polymerization reactors, but who have merely worked in the area of vinyl polymerization. In faet, Mr. Warner stated that this phenomena was first noticed, as far as he can remember, when he was a plant manager several years ago. He reported that recently they had taken some X-rays which is the means of detection of the bone structure of employees' hands. Apparently an M. D., expert in this field from Brussels, when observing the X-rays stated categorically that the damage to the bone tips to him indicated that these people had been working around PVC. This doctor, and I don't have his name, has had similar experience in Europe with Solvay, and stated that he was about to publish an article covering this phenomenon. Goodrich was concerned enough about the response to such a published article thsft Mr. Warner attempted to have one of their representatives, who was in Europe, stop by and try to discourage or to influence uhe wording of such an article to be sure that it didn't condemn PVC in general. He was unsuccessful in catching their representative but their man from Hague has been in Brussels and talked to this Solvay doctor. Perhaps jointly, for consultation as well as to discourage or edit the publication, Goodrich is sending a team of either two or three men to Brussels next week to be with this doctor. RSV 0009169 Mr. P. Avon -2- January 6, 1966 As Mr. Warner described it. the bone endings appear to have e>cper:_ ,ccd some of the same symptoms similar to the astronauts with an apparent loss of calcium from the ends of the bones. The fact that this has been noticed with employees who have not been involved with kettle cleaning may explain the lack of action you have been getting from Goodrich on our kettle cleaning license. I expressed, concern in the general area and assured Mr. Warner that with Monsanto Europe's headquarters being in Brussels, if they were unsuccessful or if assistance from us in this area would be helpful, we would be happy to cooperate with Goodrich in trying to be sure that the Solvay doctor publication is not condemning to PVC per se. Mr. Warner also suggested that if we had not done so, we might wish to have a random group of employees who have been exposed to PVC manufacture for some time X*rayed to detect whether or not there appeared to be any bone damage. 1 am sure Messrs^ Reese, Chamberlin, et al, will want to consider whether or not this should be done from a safety-union relationship, et al, standpoint. J. V. Waggoner St. Ltali JiBMAiy 7, 1966 ' PTC EXVOSUtE Hr. A. C. Erdnen SPRINGFIELD J. M. Chabtrlli - JOUM $. L. Bnttr - SHWT v. i. immii * mncmtD JG. W. Ingle - SPRINGFIELD______ F. E. Reese - FREES PILE J. V. Waggoner - JWAGG ;-- - P. H. Avon - PAVON 1V_ ' Dr. Utilise Neeeall, Springfield Fleet, tad I attended a neeting at - B. F. Goodrleh la Akron yesterday. Thoee attending for Goodrich vara: Dr. tax VIlaon. Nodical Director Mr. Vllllai MeCorw^k, Manager Industrial Hygiene a Toxicology Mr. M. Miller, Vice Preelpeat of Personnel The pwrpeac of the dlecwaalow vac for Coedrich to relate to a their experience with cha workers la their various vinyl chloride pelyMrlslng plea to. In brief, Goodrich Sea 22 people who hare either ynptme of palafel bands and/or absorption of the bona in the dlatal parte of the flagtvi to a greater or loaner degree. While approximately 6 or 7 of thee# hare developed sywpaons and hero cone into the dispensary, the ethere ham been fewnd aa a reawlt af an X-ray progf which haa seen 800 werkera in Goodrich 'e polyvinyl chloride planta having their hands X-rayed. Another 1200 are scheduled within the nest two nentha for awch Xrraye. Theaa caeca ham oecarrad aa foil* Amn Henry Welland fc Niagara Valle Lewisville 6 2 4 8 All bwt one wage cleaners of the poly kottloo. Thle exception wna a ehanlst. Goodrich haa paid eanpenaatlan an aena of the canee, end 5 ef then are being raproneofed by o lawyer- The flrat caoe wna dloeemred abowt 10 nentha ago. Thera la at preaeat no cine aa te the canoe. He ene knewe whether Boomer la ladleted bwt Goodrich la eventedly going to X-ray workers in these Installations alee. Ho ene knewe whether this la local absorption, Inhalation, appears to plasticisers, or what. Ceodrlch has explained thle earn situation to Union Carbide and that imp any *e response wna nnch Ilka were, "We don't think we ham any cases bnt wa will leak." What Monnaata shoeId de la X-ray the people wfae are presently workin* In the PTC pelywerlnatlon men at Springfield. 1 m awre Dr. Heeoell can prepare these poopla with an edemata story as that no problow will exist. Depending epee what happens following tide X-raying, wa will ham te one dot owr next step is. RSV 0009171 * Hr* A* G< -2- Jsssory 7. IfM I m to ksep Is contact with Goodrich. At present their Sector Wilsoe is mi his way te Breosels ts see If he css atop a pobliestles ef a paper by s Solway doctor 4ie sllagsdly hod st laser too eases occur In a SoWay pleat which aahlbltsd the mm bone destruction that occurred is the Goodrich eases. While thla is sot ccoplately booh hash, I think discretion should be wood ts present say sodws talking, sad the naan ef Goodrich should bo kept la the bsefcgrswad. UK/Is 1. t Kelly, K. 0. RSV 0009172