EXHIBIT 16.1 [ANDERSEN LOGO] Office of the Chief Accountant Arthur Andersen LLP Securities and Exchange Commission Suite 5600 450 Fifth Street, N.W. 901 Main Street Washington, D.C. 20549 Dallas TX 75202-3799 April 8, 2002 www.andersen.com Dear Sir/Madam: We have read the third paragraph of Item 4 included in the Form 8-K dated April 8, 2002 of PolyOne Corporation to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained therein. Very truly yours, ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP BY /s/ William M. Henry ---------------------- William M. Henry CAB cc: Mr. Richard A. Lorraine, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Occidental Chemical Corporation Mr. W. David Wilson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer PolyOne Corporation