Document z0erYeYBwrm84nmOEM5XdY5n

CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION cc r Subject to Ross v. Cor.c 14th Judic -...u, Calcasieu Parish,,.Louis: Record of Meeting of the Vinyl Chloride Research Coordinators DATE: September 17, 1980 PLACE: Dow Chemical U.S.A. Washington, D.C. ATTENDANCE MEMBERS PRESENT _______ ___ -- *- ii x X JT\ L. sBflSSSuIliTjef ctr''~to~---P-- rotectivve- v T. R. Torkelson, Chairman Z. 6. Bell W. D. Harris M. N. Johnson D. L. Kirkland R. N. Wheeler W. M. Smith PPG Industries, Inc. Uniroyal, Inc. The BFGoodrich Company Shell Oil Company Union Carbide Corporation Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. C. R. Stack MEMBER ABSENT CMA Staff T. J. Benya Ethyl Corporation The meeting was called to order by the chairman. Dr. Ted Torkelson, at 9:10 A.M. in 1.0 Epidemiology Study Proposal; The group considered a July 1980 Environmental Health Associates, Inc proposal that outlined the tasks required to perform an updat^of an epidemiological study of vinyl chloride workers done by#jribershaw Cooper Associates/Equitable Environ mental Health, wff.'from 1973 through 1976 and presented in a final report puKEt&hed in January 1978. The TCA/EHA Study was an historical prospective mortality study that followed a cohort of 10,173 male employees whose jobs had exposed them to vinyl chloride for at least one cumulative year prior to December 31, 1972. The cohort was drawn from 37 individual plants operated by 17 different companies. CMA 006178 t P.CS5 ". 14th Calcasii-j 'll ~2~ Probable exposures to VCM were graded by company personnel on a scale of high, medium and low. Cumulative exposure for each cohort member was established by multiplying the number'of months in an exposed job by an exposure grade using a scale of one to three to equate low to high exposure. The original investigators acknowledged that this approach failed to assure uniformity from plant to plant and that accurate determination of exposure levels experienced by workers in the 1940s, 50s and 60s was practically impossible. For the purpose of this follow-up study, EHA proposed that exposure determinations be made solely on the basis of duration from the time exposure began through December 31, 1972. The group was in agreement on the first point (basis of exposure determination) but felt that exposure to VCM in the period 1972 through December 1979 should also be considered. This would mean that individual work histories for the seven year period would have to be updated. This option was discussed at the EHA/CMA meeting in Berkeley on June 25-26, 1980 and at that time EHA considered that, if it was the desire of the group to proceed with updating work histories, it would not add considerably to EHA's cost to perform the study; the burden of providing resources to perform this task would lie primarily with the plants. The group UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to make this recommendation for follow-up to EHA and the Project Panel. There followed a general discussion on the merits of proceeding with an update of the original TCA/EHA study. It was noted that seventeen cases of angiosarcoma have been reported in the United States since 1972. Even though the relationship between exposure to VCM and the development of liver angiosarcoma is fairly well established, it would be of interest to see what has developed in this cohort over the last seven years. More importantly, the group would like to see what trends have developed with respect to other cancers (brain, lung, leukemia) quoted in ^access in the 1978 report. A letter to Dr. Stack from Mr. Richard Davis of EHA, dated August 26, 1980, was distributed, in which Mbv Davis estimated that an additional 350-400 deaths would be generated in the follow-up. The addition of 350 deaths would provide' sufficiently large numbers to provide statistical significance, in those categories with excessive Standard Mortality Ratios (SMRs) in the 1978 report. 00617? V'v-.'14th l\'. 'Calcasieu ? The group VOTED to accept the EHA proposal and to recommend to the vinyl chloride industry that the update be done according to the tasks outlined in the EHA proposal. The group also recommended that EHA, having done the feasibility study, should be the contractor for the study itself. The suggestion was based on EHA's acknowledged scientific reputation and experience with the data base, maintainence of continuity, and the fact that EHA's cost estimate is in line for a study of this type. Those present worked out what was considered to be an equitable basis for cost sharing of the proposed project. The group recommended that participating companies be pro-rated according to their percentage of total VCM name plate capacity plus PVC name plate capacity and other uses for the year 1979. Those companies whose plants formed part of the original study, and have since gone out of the business (e.g. Olin, Monsanto, Allied and Exxon) would not be asked to participate in funding of the project but would be asked to contribute plant resources towards providing data on their members of the cohort. Manufacturers ofVCM/PVC who have entered the market since 1972 would be asked to participate on the pro-rated basis described above. There was also an agreement that the study should proceed if two-thirds of the vinyl chloride industry are committed to the project. In the event that there is not total involvement, those committed will necessarily have to contribute more to the study than might originally be expected. Total costs of the study, including contingency and administrative considerations, would be in the neighborhood of $300,000. 2.0 IBT Settlement Negotiations with IBT for a settlement on the vinyl chloride inhalation studies were initiated in July. It was expected that IBT would make CMA an offer after a board meeting to be held in August. To date no such offer has been received. The next meeting is planned for November 14 (alternate date November 10), at which time the vinyl chloride industry will be invited to participate in the proposed project. Drs. Stack and Torkelson will draft a letter inviting participation and will include the recommendations of this group in their approach to potential participants. The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 P.M. CRS:mrh Record Subject to Approval September 25, 1980 rrojecu Administrator Vinyl Chloride Research CMA 006180 -3- Ross v. : : The group VOTED to accept the HA proposal and to recommend to the vinyl chloride industry that the update be done according to the tasks outlined in the EHA proposal. The group also recommended that EHA, having done the feasibility study, sheyld be the contractor for the study itself. The suggestion was based on EHA's acknowledged scientific reputation and experience with the data base, maintainence of continuity, and the fact that EHA's cost estimate is in line for a study of this type. Those present worked out what was considered to be an equitable basis for cost sharing of the proposed project. The group recommended that participating companies be pro-rated according to their percentage of total VCM name plate capacity plus PVC name plate capacity and other uses for the year 1979. Those companies whose plants formed part of the original study, and have since gone out of the business (e.g. Olin, Monsanto, Allied and Exxon) would not be asked to participate in funding of the project but would be asked to contribute plant resources towards providing data on their members of the cohort. Manufacturers of VCM/PVC who have entered the market since 1972 would be asked to participate on the pro-rated basis described above. There was also an agreement that the study should proceed if two-thirds of the vinyl chloride industry are committed to the project. In the event that there is not total involvement, those committed will necessarily have to contribute more to the study than might originally be expected. Total costs of the study, including contingency and administrative considerations, would be in the neighborhood of $300,000. 2.0 IBT Settlement Negotiations with IBT for a settlement on the vinyl chloride inhalation studies were initiated in July. It was expected that IBT would make CMA an offer after a board meeting to be held in August. To date no such offer has been received. In order to expedite settlement, the group VOTED to recommend to Mr. Ed Frost, CMA legal counsel, to make a best settlement by the end of this year and consider legal action next year if an equitable agree ment cannofe be worked out. The next meeting is planned for November 14 (alternate date November 10T~, at which time the vinyl chloride industry will be invited to participate in the proposed project. Drs. Stack and Torkelson will draft a letter inviting participation and will include the recommendations of this group in their approach to potential participants. The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 P.M. CRS:mrh Record Subject to Approval September 25, 1980 Fro^ecr Administrator vinyl Chloride Research CMA 006.180