The University of Minnesota Study

The University of Minnesota, a pre-eminent NIOSH-funded research center, is conducting an epidemiological investigation of the Spring House Technical Center, with particular focus on the concerns arising from a number of reported cases of brain cancer among former employees at the site.  The University of Minnesota study follows and supplements prior studies done by in-house medical staff of Rohm and Haas Company. The University of Minnesota was asked in 2008 to become involved in this effort and bring its independent expertise to this issue. The University’s work is underway and on track to be completed by mid-2010.  Rohm and Haas has committed to support the University in completing this study with complete autonomy, with the expectation that results of this study will be made public and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The University of Minnesota has already completed substantial data collection and numerous site visits.  In addition, the study team has made several presentations at the site to provide updates to current and former employees on the progress of the study. Copies of presentation materials from these updates are set out below.

Updates to the Spring House Epidemiological Study

The Dow Chemical Company acquired the Rohm and Haas Company in April 2009. Dow has a strong commitment to the health of its people and takes this issue very seriously.  Dow has actively assessed the study process to assure that these efforts remain transparent and scientifically rigorous.

Dow has expanded the stakeholder engagement process to more directly include all current and former employees. Dr. Eileen Bonner, Delaware Valley Regional Health Director, will lead this effort. The memo to Spring House employees and the letter to external Spring House stakeholders regarding these updates are also attached below.

In addition, the University of Minnesota formed a Science Advisory Panel. The University's announcement is attached below.

Recognizing the Significant Contribution of the Stakeholder Group

The company is grateful for the work of the volunteer employee stakeholder group, comprised of both current and former employees, who assisted and provided helpful questions and information to the University of Minnesota study team. The stakeholder group was sunset in July 2009, as part of a transition to including all employees and former employees in the stakeholder communications process.  The stakeholder group raised a number of useful questions related to the department categories, chemical categories, and exposure assessments. These questions and concerns, including all the Shareholder Group meeting minutes, have been shared with the University of Minnesota team, and many of the issues raised by this group are addressed in the Q&A section of this site. The group included: Rich Johnson (leader), John Whiteman, Dave Larson, Richard Petruschke, Jim Brown, Tom Haag, David Haas, Doug Lisk, John Andrews, John Holz, Robbie Regetta, and Joe Hoefler. Importantly, the University of Minnesota will continue to use the institutional knowledge of individual former Stakeholder Group members, as well as other current and former Spring House employees, to understand job histories, locations, and other information needed to complete a comprehensive worker exposure assessment in its study.