Document ykaae1LmmD83q8npZ23J1Qod6

Research & Development Department June 27, 1973 (conoco) Continental Oil Company P.0. Box 1267 Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601 (405) 762-3456 CHEMICALS RESEARCH JUL2 .173 Mr. D. M. Jonas Vinatex Limited New Lane Havant, F09 2NQ Hampshire, England Dear Don: Re: Toxicity of VCM Conoco is indeed connected with the MCA program investigating VCM effects on animals. The MCA sponsoring group, so involved, and the National Institute for Occupational Health (U.S.) will meet soon with the European group mentioned by ICI to share data developed so far by the European work. The MCA work in the U.S. has just begun so no details are available. When they emerge, their release will be on a restricted and formal basis so I think it will be some time before it's possible to learn anything. Best regards. Wayne R. Sorenson Director, Plastics bjs BCC w/Attachments: FK VVC 000006737 r. 'y- ' PLEASE REPLY TO: OUR REF YOUR REF HaVaiYt DMJ/TG Dr. W. R. Sorenson, Research & Development Dept., Continental Oil Co., P.0. Box 1267, Ponca City, Oklahoma 7^601. JUN 2 o 1^73 REGISTERED OFFICE: NEW LANE HAVANT HAMPSHIRE POS 2NQ TELEPHONE: HAVANT 6JS0 INLAND TELEGRAMS: VINATEX HAVANT FOREIGN CABLES: VINATEX LONOON TELEX: MIOt REGISTERED IN LONOON No 9061M TLX STAVELEY WORKS CHESTERFIELD DERBYSHIRE S43 2P8 TELEPHONE: STAVELEY 3101 TELEGRAPHIC AOOflESS SCON CHESTERFIELO TELEX: S4SD9 20th June 1973 Dear Wayne, Toxicity of Vinyl Chloride Monomer Bill Adams recently had a letter from ICI with the attached document dated 29th May 1973. summarising ICI's views on VCM toxicity and explaining-that, a grbifp of four European companies including ICI is investigating various aspects of this topic. We are told that CONOCO is one of several companies sponsoring a similar programme with MCA. I should be grateful if you could let me have details of what MCA has done so far and hoi^ it intends proceeding in the future. Also your own personal interpretation of the data accumulated so far. Best regards. Yours sincerely. vvc 00000673a TOXICITY OP VCM 29 May 73 r\) ^ ICI wishes to bring to the attention of its two principal vinyl chloride monomer customers information concerning the animal carcinogenic effect associated with VCM, and the actions being taken within ICI to reduce exposure of VCM and PVC plant operatives to VCM vapours. It has been known for some time that exposure of workers to VCM vapours can "piC,2[ice a condition^r^^-ag aero psteolysis (Ref l). This effect and othe work reporting evidence of clinical fin&fhgs in wfTkers exposed to VCM (Ref has led to the adoption in the USA and in-Britain of a'Threshold Limit Value" (TLV) of 200 ppm v/v. In 1970,- Dr P t Viola reported that whilst attempting to produce aero osteoly.' in rats similar to that occurring in humans he had observed tumors in animal" exposed to 30,000 ppm of VCM vapour 4 hours/day for 12 months (Ref 3). Ait A the concentrations used were greatly ill excess of the levels to which worker-, the industry arc normally exposed, and we have no evidence of medical procl:~cancer in our own workers, a group of companies (including ICI) concerned VCM and/or PVC manufacture decided to extend research in this field. At th; moment work is in hand by a group of four European companies (including I Cl, investigate the incidence of cancer in rats exposed to VCM vapour at stario,;~ concentrations. A somewhat similar programme to investigate the effects ' on hamsters, mice and rats is in hand by a group of US companies under the d. the Manufacturing Chemists Association, and this group is also aware of the progress to date on the European studies. Parent companies of BXL (Union Carbide) and Vinatex (Conoco) are sponsors of MCA programme, and it is Id's recommendation that BXL and Vinatex should c:;. their respective principals to review the implications of the European anc. research programmes, the results, of which will both be published in due cc";.r. In the meantime ICI is monitoring the conditions within its own VCM and F/C 7 ` and taking steps to ensure that exposure of workers to VCM vapours is kert the lowest practical limit. ICI suggests to its VCM customers that They do likewise and is willing to assist them, if requested, by providing details analytical equipment and procedures etc. References: 1 Archives of Environmental Health 22, 61, 1971 2 American Ind. Hygiene Assoc. Journal 33. 20, 1972 3 Cancer Research 31, 511971 D M Elliott D P Duffield vvC 000006739 n ,Yi/u POSITION STATEMENT CONOCO CHEMICALS -L We are aware of a meeting recently between NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and MCA regarding vinyl chloride. Animal tests are in progress to determine effects of long term exposure to vinyl chloride vapor. There is also an epidemiological study in progress to determine any health effect upon people who have worked with vinyl chloride. Both studies are followed diligently by Conoco Chemicals. It is premature to reach any conclusions since the data are very preliminary at this time. Note - Except for the meeting referred to above, the other has been made known to the public. See attachments. 0000067^0 I FOR RELEASE For Immediate Release CONTACT : Richard F. Blewitt (202) 483-6126, ext. 282 WASHINGTON, D. C. -- A group of chemical companies that handle vinyl chloride monomer is sponsoring a survey program to document the health experience of present and former employees who have worked with that material. The Manufacturing Chemists Association (MCA) is administering the study, which is being conducted by Tabershaw-Cooper Associates, Inc. of Berkeley, Calif. This study complements a concurrent MCA project at Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories, Inc., in which the effects on laboratory animals of long-term exposures to vinyl chloride vapors are being evaluated. Both programs are designed to provide additional scientific information on which to base safeguards to protect employee health. Expected to be completed by early L974, the epidemiology project represents another phase of industry's efforts to secure the kinds of data needed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health with respect to various industrial chemicals, including vinyl chloride. The major use of vinyl chloride, produced in substantial tonnage, is for the manufacture of nineties. MCA-3814 vve 000006741 ti n c> r* ??> jgj) A power boost for CORN'S proton synchrotron to 400 b.e.v. has been approved by the "roups council. CEBN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) first ap proved the project in 11*71 fora level of at Ic-ast 3U0 b.e.v. with option for a pause at 200 b.e.v. to be followed by introduction of superconducting magnets into tlie main ring. The recent decision means that the ring will be filled with iron-core magnets, and a direct move to 4UQ b.e.v. will be made without pause. Pest control emerges as a top topic in U.S.-U.S.S.R., U.S.-China scieniifieexchange programs. Next month, Moscow and Kiev will host a joint conference on inte grated pest management. Selected U.S. scientists, under a travel grant from USDA. will attend the conference and.visit Soviet laboratories. Some may stay and work there. In turn, Soviet scientists will visit U.S. labora tories. Meanwhile, six Chinese specialists in insect hormone research are now louring U.S. government research centers, companies, and universities for six weeks. (For more on U.S.-China exchanges sue page 11.) Effect of vinyl chloride on the health of those who have worked with the material is the subject of a survey bein* administered by the Manufacturing Chemists Associa tion and carried out by Tnbershnw-Cooper Associates. Sponsor of the study is a group of chemical companies that handle vinyl chloride. Another study at Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories is determining elfeets on labora tory animals of long-term exposure to vinyl chloride vapors. The studies will supply data for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Electricity from a "solar sen power plant" might cost less than that from offshore nuclear plants, gasified coal, and other sources, according to scientists at CornegicMellon University. A multidisciplinary group, led by Dr. Clarence Zener, has received a $190,000. 13-month grant from NSF to make a computer-based cost analysis of a potential system to gcnci ate power hy exploiting temper ature differences between surface and deep-lying waters in tropical seas. The proposed closed Rankino cycle sys tem would use a working fluid vaporizing at ocean sur face temperatures. Coal-to-gan test runs have been lengthened considerably, according to the Inst ituto of Gas Technology, Chicago. IGThas increased continuous operation of its Ilygns pilot plant from a day or two at a time to more than 100 hours. The plant converts more than 3 tons per hour of Montana lignite into 900 to 1000 B.l .u.-per-cu.-ft., sulfur-free gas at pipeline pressure of 1000 p.s.i. Iligh-lemperalurc nuclear reactor development has re ceived a boost. Two more utilities--Northern Slates Power and Pacific Gas and Electric--have joined Gulf General Atomic's high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) development program. Jn another move, a utilities industry group. High Temperature Develop ment Associates, Inc., representing some 5Uf7r of power generating capacity in the U.S., has established a re search fellowship at tin; University of California, San Diego, for work related to the advanced concept. Japan's first nuclear ship sits idle in port more t Iran eight months afterconipletion. ns fishermen who fear radioactive contamination of fishing grounds continue to oppose her trial runs. Officials of Japan Nuclear Ship Development Agency, owner of the 2 H)U- CEN July 9. 1973 deadweight ton cargo ship Afulsu. scheduled trials from Juno AO in t lie Japan Sea after canceling original plans-, to use her home port of Mutsu Bay. But the new plan was also canceled after fishing associations in three prefect ures opposed the sailing. A large solid waste disposal system for Tokyo is being studied by Dashavcyor Co., a subsidiary of Bcndix Corp., under a feasibility study contract from the Japan Trans portation Planning Association. One concept being con sidered involves a Arj-mile system tunning about IbO feet bcncat h the city. Some 13,000 tons per day of waste would be broughl to some 23 underground collec tion stations, where it would be compressed automatically into bales and loaded onto Dashavcyor vehicles for auto matic travel to a remote disposal facility. Passenger cars pollute water. In a more than t ear-long study, Biospherics, Inc., Rockville, Md., vacuumed sec tions of Washington area roads, analyzing the debris. It finds that traffic on all area highways, frdm Washington, D.C., to the Capitol Beltway, drops 53 tons of pollutants per day, mostly from private cars. Included are asbestos {from brake linings), rubber (from tires), zinc (from oil and tires), lead (from gasoline), and oilier heavy metals and nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Rain washes much of this pollution into the surface waters of the area, the company says. Sorb-oil is being produced in-western Europe. The non sinking biodegradable material, developed by Seattlebased innova Corp., absorbs up to 29 times its own weight of oil and is thus marketed for oil spill control and cleanup. Sorb-oil is being made by Isotno in ! leuie, near Kortrijk, Belgium. Daily output, initially set at 30 metric ions, is expected to rise to 200 metric tons in the next five years. Mitsubishi is licensed to make tire product in Japan for Far Eastern markets. A second new radial fire production method haa been developed by Firestone. A year aft or disclosing a way to make radial tires on conventional equipment, the com pany says it now can make such tires using just a single, highly automated work, station instead of the former two. Part of the new process involves using an expandable steel drum instead of the former central rubber bladder in building the tire. Licensing' of university-developed technology will be the subject of miniforums to be held at a number of univer sities by Dr. Dvorkovit?. & Associates, an Ormond Beach. Fla., technology licensing firm. The miniforums--bring ing together industry am) university representatives-- will be a prelude to the Second Annual International University/Industry Forum in Chicago next February. A just-ended minilorum at the University of Toledo lias sei the pace for tfie meetings at schools interested in but unable to attend tire first international forum (C&F.N, May 14, page 2G). An acid-soluble zirconium oxide is now available from Tafa/ionarc, Bow, N.H., in pilot-plant quantities. The microcryslalline product is unique in that it dissolves readily in sulfuric acid, Jonnrc says. 'Flic acid solution yields a disulfato zireonic acid that is water soluble and hence convenient for making zirconium compounds, including soaps for nontoxic paint and ink driers. A fire-resistant plastic sheet has been developed hy Sumitomo Chemical, Osaka, Japan. The company says the material, called Klintale. has a polyolefin resin as a principal ingredient and inorganic constituents imparl ing heat resistance. The street doesn't generate heat or toxic gases when burned, the company says. Expected uses include packagingnnd medical applications. vve 0qOQQ6742