Document 3JKBXvGVoD7Rk9x4ovRzagg1E

tint t>C*!cc of FOR Rftt.KASXX ArUlL lO 11:00 A.24. FOR FURTHER IHtfORWATTOH CALtr Jules lothstoia (212) 935-6036 . n f\p% iis iii*ii AN F-HYIRttfliENlAL HAZARD REPORT 0f Hry>->r 'rr.fM i B"Mxbittfrt***. /> ( .'ft.i/.* tOif* St, aVtrAi-Ay* .fi'tuK' .%* yn. .v. r. io>Vi2 JD 4-6'ArJ Ftura WUUin F, Ryan The Foriloiis Plan clem Fact Sheet an Folychlorlnaced Biphenyls (PCBc) Polychlorinated Biphenyl* (FUSa) are chemical cowpouoda nurHjfaccured In the United Staten by the Monsanto Ccmpnny under* the trade name AR^CLCR. rCBO end their residues are extremely toxic to fioht birds, animals and Humana, They have a direct action on the ah In, producing severe. fot of acne. They any produce a variety of effects ranging from nausea and loss of weight to increased respiration, lowered red block coLL count And inhibi tion of carbohydrate metabolism. More sorious effects ere those on the kidneys. The principal effect, however, is on the livor (possibly leading to atrophy, followed by death). . As POBs era tot soluble in water, they are (like DDT) very persistent in the eavironmeat, llilo insolubility factor makes FCBa capable of being widely distributed over the earth via air currents. (Upon being ingested by animals or humans, they aro soluble In. fat.) FCRs, eopccially those of high chlorine content, resist biological brcAkdottu, Once released, they are a long-term hazard, A Wv>iterv PnlTmtn<* . ^ , FOBS have recently been identified^ Aa the mystery pollutant, j similar to DOT and sometime* mistaken for It, found in analyses of pesti cldc residues* Soreo Jensen and Conner Vlldtsirk, Swedish scientists, reported In 1966 that these chlorine-containing compounds sore FCBs* Jensen and Wldmark bad found FCBh in fish and sea birds, in conifer needles, sad In some nflaplci of human fat, Monte Kirvcn, of the Ban Diego Datura! History Museum* in studying DDT compounds present in the eggs of Fercgirine falcons, found this ase -' 0501533 %.! EgtTjig."neni: Jan--Feb-. 197G, More lectern In the WtiwK by Dr. Robert: Rleeborou&h end Virginia Brodtne, pp. 16-27. ! STLCOPCB4044775 unkiwAiu confound. l'crntutiitc, he found the Swedish patera flnd^ vith furtlvt lnboMtrtry work, identified the trouble-mo.leer as PGBa, Distribution in the "Environment: FCBs have found in 'Widely dlncrlbucad AainfloA of marine birds* the fish on which itwrinc birds prey, fr^ahwfttnr fish end terrestrial birds. But, by far the taoat frightening hnicard is thes effect of PCBe cm human beings. FCHs may be taken into the body by diroet action upon the shin or as a vapor taken through the rntiiirotorj- tract. The effect on the olein is chlomcnc. The early ympfcowm nrc pimples and dark pi^oiiintstionj Later, onre serious eruptions. Persons who have been continuously exposed to PC&e may suffer nauseaA vomiting, loos of weight, edema and aWominai pain. Tim moat severe effects are jaundice and atrophy of tJne liver* Bscpcrimcnt* with laboratory animals confirm the high toxicity of PCtto when injected, fed, or applied to the akin.--^ PCbs have been detected in citrus pools and in citrus fruits. The probable source of this contamination in the biphcnyl-iaprcGnateii wrapping. (Fruit pulp: 0.01 to 0.90 ppm; peel? 1.0 CO 475 ppn; whole fruits? .2 to 121 ppm). Humana can ingest FCBs in nudt contaminated foods; or, 1c tauy be poua Lblc that they could absorb these conpounda through the akin from cits handling or fyicfcinn^aring of the wrapping* The uses of biphenyls xecotronended by the Botuanto Company (ace i ' ? - U ' excerpt^ from the Monsanto Company's Technical Bulletin 0/JL-306) are so varied and comprehensive that hardly anyone can escape contact with them. Besides wrapping for fruits, they nrc uacd in the coatings of bottles, anmdgp-reaiatant paper, fire-resistant and fire-retardant compounds, pbocochcmogracphic copy sheets, decorative sparkling plastics, asphalt, adhesives. Ink, paraffin, rosins, mbhor, paints, pesticide^, sealing compounds, aluminum foil, ceUopl^uc, polyester film, paper, and olive- drab canvas for tents, tarpaulins, etc,, ate. ftow do PtBs enter the Ecological Svnten? 0501534 It is possible that. In the manufacture of FCBs, vapors or particles dyu released to the environment. In answer to questions about stack control, Monsanto merely states thee ''extensive efforts am in practice...to prevent PCB to the environment . _ .. 3/ In public: ncatemcnta, Mons^nca claims that PCBs ur being uaed in ftloocd systuioBf such as in hydraulic fluIda And it also ndnita to "several ApttUcatloQfl" ttberc FCHs arc taaile part; of a solid Material, We know that hydraulic oil escapes to the environment. There is also the danger from friction-contact with plastic food wrappings and from the wear and weathering of the solid vaporous matter* producing PCB^ in the form of tiny particle* or / Moot containers, such nn plastic wrappings, bottles, etc,, mast eventually be destroyed, either in home or municipal Incinerators* At the high tcmperafcuren, necessary to burn Municipal wastes, PCftc oy be released to the atmosphere bc va&ora and fumes , which would be highly toxitf- The horning would produce oxides of PCSe, more tootle than the anoxldisil, - I ' ' | 1 1 1 'i 0501535 STLCOPCB4044777