Document 06gd95eB7or724eo8a3d3OvQx

SIERRA Jan./Feb. 1995 PANDORA'S PARTNERS Eric Coppolino's "Pandora's Poison" (September/October 1994) includes misleading and inaccurate accusations that leave readers with a false view of both the science of polychlorinated bi phenyls (PCBs) and Monsanto's actions. Monsanto acted responsibly in the manufacture of PCBs, and in the even tual phaseout of the product once evi dence about its persistence in the envi ronment was confirmed. In 1970, Monsanto widely communicated the newly recognized environmental con cern and launched an immediate vol untary phaseout of all sales of PCB products for "open applications" that could lead to uncontrolled environ mental release. Monsanto considered halting production of PCBs in the early 1970s, but no substitutes were com mercially available for fire-resistant di electric fluid. This dilemma was recog nized in 1975 by EPA Administrator Russell Train, who cautioned that mas sive power disruption would occur if Monsanto were to cease production be fore suitable replacement fluids became available. Following assurances that re placement products were at hand, Monsanto voluntarily totally ceased production and sales of PCBs in 1977. Allegations in the article that Mon santo knew about adverse health effects from exposure to PCBs since the 1930s and covered up the information arc not true. Monsanto has never concealed any hazard of PCBs. The animal tests and other data referred to in the article were publicly known for decades and were considered in establishing han dling guidelines for PCBs. Further more, the original study by Dr. Cecil K. Drinker, referenced in the article, was in fact published by the Harvard School of Public 1 lealtli following its open presentation at a meeting at tended by government representatives. Dr. Drinker himself said m 1937 that PCBs are safe and "operations employ ing them can easily be safeguarded." Drinker's further studies determined that the chemical he originally believed to be causing liver effects in animals was not a PCB. In 1939, Dr. Drinker publicly stated that the PCB product he tested was only mildly toxic if inhaled over long periods of time. Sierra claims that Monsanto falsified cancer research related to PCBs. This Page 10 literature--the same literature that "Pandora's Poison" claims GE some how suppressed. Stephen D. Ramsey, Vice-President Corporate Environmental Programs General Electric Company Faitficld, Connecticut again is absolutely wrong. The actual interim study reports and tissue slides from the studies of Monsanto prod ucts, conducted by a then nationally recognized independent laboratory, were turned over to the government. The government has never challenged these PCB studies or indicated that Monsanto had done anything wrong. Claims of "cover-ups" and "sacrific ing `life itself to corporate profits" are untrue and out of touch with Mon santo's way ofdoing business. M. A. Pierk, Vice-President Environment, Safety and Health Monsanto Company St. Louis, Missouri Eric Coppolino replies: Stark denials in theface ofdocumented evidence to the con trary have been corporate policy at Mon santo and GEfor decades. These letters are only the latest examples. While Monsanto says it "never concealed any hazard of PCBs," neither it nor GE can yet bring themselves to admit any; Monsanto acted only "once evidence about the material's persistence... was confirmed"--not because ofany health risk. Note also that its "voluntar)'" cessation of sales and production came the year after PCBs were banned by the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Responsibility to warn the public begins not when a chemical is proven to be harm ful, but when it is suspected to be so. That moment came in 193 7 when Dr. Drinker "Pandora's Poison" is an unfortunate found liver damage in rats exposed to example of an advocate ignoring facts Halowax, a product made with PCBs. By in an attempt to further preconceived citing Drinker's subsequent contradictory re and unfounded theories. The claim of ports--which, it should be noted, are not part a 50-year conspiracy to keep informa- ofthe public record--CE and Monsanto try tion about PCBs from virtually every to have it both ways, suggesting here that the one defies the reality of a long, public studies relieved them ofthe responsibility to record of scientific investigation and inform the public, while maintaining in communication. Unreported is Dr. court--as recently as last October, in GE's Drinker's later research that exonerated case--that the original Drinker study consti PCBs from causing health effects in the tuted notice that PCBs were toxic. workers he had studied. That the government never challenged PCBs have been among the most Monsanto's PCB tests at the notoriously heavily scrutinized chemicals over the corrupt IBT Lab is no more proofoftheir last two decades. None of the human probity than it is of PCBs' safety. GE's epidemiological studies--including a Ramsey still doesn't recognize any link be number involving General Electric tween exposure to PCBs and serious illness. workers--establish any significant link Both writers ignore the EPA's reassessment between exposure to PCBs and serious ofdioxin and PCBs (see "Elemental Enemy," illness or increased incidence of cancer. page 30), which concluded that adverse ef General Electric acknowledges that fects can be expected at or near current ex there are issues regarding PCBs upon posure levels--this thanks to companies that which reasonable minds may differ, but knew better but failed to act. we maintain that our opinions are based on long occupational experience and the large body of public scientific DSW 133637 STLCOPCB4033595