Document 1Qp2KgxbboQYRB9aXND29gn0E

IVlonsanto Monsento Company . 600 N. Lindbergh Boulevard St. Louis. Missouri 631GB Phone; <3M> 634-1000 June 20, 1978 St. Louis Post--Dispatch 900 North 12th Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63101 - To the Editor: Mr. Popovich's allegations against Monsanto and the Chemical industry ("More Letters From Readers," June 14) would lead one to believe that chemicals are unnecessary and that chemical companies are concerned solely with earnings. The facts, however, show differently. At Monsanto, we have nearly 700 managers, scientists and technicians working full-time to insure worker, product and environmental safety. Last year alone, we spent over $160 million in this effort. We have developed elaborate devices to detect the presence of chemicals, and protect workers. We advise our customers carefully on the proper use of chemicals. We are nearing completion of a $12 million toxicology laboratory here in St. Louis where we will be able to perform our own long-range health effect studies. We were instrumental in founding the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology. We have mounted a five-year program to help finance the academic training of toxicologists. We are setting up the largest computerized system ever attempted to monitor worker health and environmental exposure. All of this is tangible evidence that we in the chemical industry are not only deeply concerned, but are taking responsible actions. As to Monsanto not incinerating PCBs, the company ceased manufacture of the product in July 1977, and as of Oct. 31, has had no inventory. 1977, Chemicals are the basic structure of life itself. We state in our communications programs, that no chemical (natural or synthetic) is safe under all conditions all the time. Chemicals, properly used, make life a lot more liveable and Monsanto seeks to gain a balanced perspective on the subject. JEM:j sm 0500B03 STLCOPCB4044646