Document 3QMGrrk1p4e2RnG846beannBO

This newsletter is published by EPA, Region V "PCB in Eggs Dooms 300.000 Chickens" "PCB Warning on Mississippi" "Stricter PCBs Rule Delayed" "Equipment Is Dismantled at Plant with PCB Leak" Recent weeks have seen an increase of news stories across the country about PCBs. This month Environment Midwest takes another look at this group of toxic chemicals: what EPA is doing about them and what remains to be done. We also bring you up to date on the work of Or. James Allen, a leading researcher on the health effects of PCBs on primates, and of Dr. Douglas Hailett, whose work is with herring gulls on the Great Lakes. By Susan Nelson As Environment Midwest wsnt to used cooking oil thel had been contem- were before regulations and the ban. as press, blood lasts and breast-milk sam- mated with PCBs. Health symptoms-- they continue to be when improperly plea were being coneidered in the West skin lesions, constant abdominal pain, dteposed ol--they do not break apart tor rasidentt of nine Slates who had numbness and pain at ihe limbs, men- mio new. lets harmful chemical ar- possibly been exposed to PCBs in their strual disturbances, babits bom with rangements. Instead they remain bond- food. Health officials had lound PCB abnormally dark akin, forma ol cancer, ed together (chlorine molecules and bi- coolemmelion in food or animal teed in changes in the blood--have been end phenyt molecules) and biotccumuiai* m Idaho, Utah, Montana, Washington, Or- continue to be documented by scien- organisms throughout the environment agon, Iowa, North end South Dakota, tists who have loHowed up on what ie In other words, PCBs that have been end Minnesota. And the list of Stales now called the "Yusho incident. discharged into waterways. <or in- seems sure to grow. Manufacturers ol PCBs and those stance, will remain there, or in the bot- PCBs--polychlorinated biphenyls-- who transported end used the chemi- tom sediments, where organisms that have been celled one of the moat per* cals began to raduca and restrict PCBs inhabit thosa waterways feed on PCB- ststenf toxic pollutants in the environ- in the early 1970$. tn 1978 EPA conlsminstsd matter. These organ- meni. Members of a broad family of or- banned the manufacture of PCBs, On isms--from microscopic plankton to genic chemicals known as chlorinated July 2, 1979. EPA announced the total small fish to tsrgs fish and gu'is to hydrocarbons, PCBs were dlacovorod in ban on ute and transport ol PCBs. sx- men--ratain PCBs In varying levels m the lete 1600s but were not used in- cept by EPA-epprovod permit. their bodies, particularly in the fatty in dustrially In the United Steles until EPA's Region V Toxic Substances suet and ths organa. As PCBs move up 1929. Office sent registered letters to Ihe Re- the food cham, from tesser organisms Between 1929 end 1971, however, glon't 2,837 known usere ot PCBs be- toward men, their concentration in. PCBs came into wide usage in industry, tore the ban. (The largest users are creases. Their chemical end thermal stability, tire transformer repair or service compan- The same pattern is followed ii PCBs resistance, and good conductivity were ies; heavy industries, including steel ere accidentally mixed wiih poultry properties Inst staled them tor eteciricaf producers, mat use transformers, cape- feed, tor instance, or it PCBs are mien transformers antf capacitors. Other ctlort, and hydraulic systems: end utility with oil used m cattle back-scratchers properties of PCfe were weft-matched companies) The Toxic Substances staff in feedtots. as happened tins last sum- to the manulMSm of such various has responded to more than 2.000 mar in Kansas. products as ptssttciters. adhesives. PCB-rslated Itlephone inquiries And, Since Ihe ban on PCBs was an- palnls, carbontoss carbon paper, inks, as part ot e nationwide program EPA pounced, the U S. Pood and Drug Ad- end lubricants. began in January ot ihts year, the stall ministreiion, which sets allowable van. In 1988 Swedish scientists began to has been making compliance msoec- derds on PCBs in foods that humans spsek snd write ol ihe'toxicity ot PCBs. lions ot known PCB users. Results ot eat, announced it was lowering PCB In t98B some 1.200 people m Japan (hose inspections are bo<ng evaluated levels lor the tout food categories m were accidentally poisoned titer they lor potential EPA enforcement actions, which PCBs are known lo be found As Why all the attention paid to some- reported in Environment Midwesf m Ai,- ihing ihe eye can t even sec7 gust, these levels were ts toiiews wiiti PCBs are harmful. Once they are re teased into ths environment--es they TE EM*rOCfOD'n :*vovCkiOEH '9rq HONS 201267 MAJOR PCB DISCHARGERS AND PROBLEM AREAS IN REGION V, BY STATE (Noncontammaied Croat Lake* overt and haibors lyptciMy register PCB level* ol l part par min,on lppm>) tatc LOCATION OF MOSLEM MAXIMUM PCB CONCENTRATION vtsa oiscovedeO ILLINOIS INDIANA Vaukegen Harbor Morin ouch |r4xilry lo Lake Michigan Bedford 10,000 Don s> sedtmeni* 2*5.000 ppm in sediment* 30.000 ppm In sediments end sludge, 300 pobtXion In ouitaM water i ?(> i ere 1 9 7S Bloomington Above SO ppm in sludge IS76 Indiana Harbor 2t ppm ` M sediment* 19r r MiCHIOAN Seeine* River 73 ppm* in aedimont* 1976 MINNESOTA no known stgn-iicani diaeharge arses OHIO WISCONSIN Ashtaou't Rrvar Field* Brook tributary to Ashtabula River Fo* River Sheboygan Rivet 63 ppm in sediments 77 ppm tn sediments S1 ppm * m sediment* ISO ppm m sediments 1979 197-} 1977 1978 Son adiacen* lo Sheboygan River 170.000 ppm 197(1 Bated on curtentry aieilatVe dala Further Inveatrgation* may ytew significantfr higher concentraliona of PCB lowered levels lo become effective manufacture, use, and transport, espe This situation Is also ffkety to change August 28. 1979: Eggs .from .5 to 3 parts cially in the Midwest. soon. Region V has received a hall-dor- Region V is number one in the Na an applications for high-temperature in per million (ppm) tion tor heavy industries that require the cinerators that propose to dispose of Milk and Dairy Prod* use of PCBs. says Dr. Sheldon Simon, PCBa. Among the applicants, according ucts-.from 2.5 to 1.5 ppm director of Region V s PCB program in to Charles Grigalauski ol Region v s Poultry.. .from 5 to 3 ppm the Toxic Substances Office. "People Hazardous Wastes Branch, are iirms in Fish and Shellfish...from 5 are becoming awara of the ban and the Chicago. Chicago Haights. Dehoii. and to 2 pom new regulations now," he says. "And Middletown, Ohio. Applications are Lower levels lor the first throe industries should have had in-house pending. Whan the soplications are groups want into affect, as planned, on programs since 1978 tor the propar deemed complete, a public notice wifi August 28. But the Netional Fisheries marking, use. storage, and disposal of be issued soliciting public comment*; tneliluts. e trade association, filed Ob* PCBs. When PCBs ere burned at tempera factions to lowaring lha standards for Indeed, it Is the disposal of PCBs tures too low to destroy the mo'rcuies. fish and shellfish and requested a hear that poses lha greatest threat to the en they escape into the air. where rhuy are ing, vironment: The growing awareness of carried by wind currants to locnons Thorelore. allowable standards for PCBs has not yet brought about a simi hundreds or thousands of miles from PCBe in edible portions of fish and lar growth in finding and gaining ac their source, it is this type of burning sheillish remain at 5 ppm. The hearing ceptance lor property managed and ap that ia said to be introducing PCBs to has yet to be announced. (It you want proved disposal sites tor products con Lake Superior. Though levels there fail to make your opinion known, either taining PCBs. below FDA's standards, scientists say supporting or opposing the new, lower Only seven such sites currently exist there is no other source for Lake Supe level, send yow gammints to Hearing in this country tor land disposal of rior PCB contaminaiion than airborne Clerk. FDA, Rom* 448, 5600 Fishers PCBs: in Niagara Falls and Modal City. pollution. EPA is conducting and fund, Lane. RockwBo. MD 20857.) New York: Livingston, Alabama: Santa ing research info the PCB problem m The inert--rt attention being paid to Barbara County, California; Beatty, Ne Lake Superior, as well as PCB research PCBs no doubt comes from a belief-ev vada; Arlington, Oregon; and Grand throughout the country. formed public as wed as tho much View, Idaho. An application has lust It it lo combat improper disposal tighter refutations that pertain to PCBs. been spprovod that establishes Region techniques--end lo end me siocvpiimg (For a copy of EPA t Final PCB Bon Vs first PCB land disposal site in Cler of PCB wastes that is inevitable uunt Rufe: Over 100 Ouctiions 1 Answers mont County. Ohio, near Williamsburg. and unless proper disposal facilities ,vc To Help you Meet Those Requirements, Property managed landtitls and high- found end approved--mat EPA is ap write to EPA $ Office ol Toxic Sub temperature incineration are the only plying much ol its efforts stances. T3-799. Washington, DC two known means for disposing of 20460.) PCBa. Only one such inemoration facili Llntortunatnty. there Is much more to ty currently exists, a Goner,-it Electric controlling PCBs than banning their Company incinerator In Waterford, New York, that it permitted to accept only on-site PCB wastes. Sum* Norton tf writer i'rii'r>r mtfi EPA ngofi v EM/OCTOOCR -NOVtMOEfl 1T9 HONS 201268 Monkeys React Drastically to PCBs Dr. James Allen, an experimental the fourth month, irregularities in the f " "F ' pathologist a< me University o< Wiscon menstrual cycle were recorded." Six of sin Medical School. s a leading re- the eight females that were bred after " aeerchor in the lidd oi health ehecia o< ax months of PCB exposure conceived: PCB contanunadon. the other two did not. (All of the con- He began PCS siudics--"pnmahly trot-grouo females conceived.) Of those their ability to stimulate the enzymes that did conceive, "lour experienced that control liver function "--m 1M7. earty abortions." AH eight ol the 2.5 When the Yusho incident occurred in ppm females conceived, but only live Jepan in 1966, he says, "we expanded carried their infants to term. (All of the Our work to include more, clinical stud- control lemalea carried their infanta to lea, ' term.) All PCB-exposed infanta were t " In a relatively abort time we found small, "and at birth their akin contained that rats were relatively poor subjects. detectable levels oi PCBa, We switched to rheaus monkeys in "The infanta were permitted to nurae 1966-69 and found that they more for four months." Dr. Allen reported ctoaely approximate aymptoma ob tour years ago. Within two months the served in man." infants showed swollen lips and eyelids, Dr. AMen presented results of PCB loss of eyelashes, lesions, and in studies -- of rhesus monkeys at the creased pigmentation of the skin. Wisconsin Regional Primate Research "'Within four months, three of the six in Center--et EPA's National Conference fants that had survived died due to PCB r I on PCBs. held in Chicago In November. intoxication." 1975. Hit results startled the scientific Dr. Allen's studies of the effects of world. PCBs on rhesus monkeys has contin Female monkeys that had bean fed ued, with the last group of infants bom 95 ppm PCBs in their diets "developed orty in 1979. His evaluations of the facial lesions similar to those observed studies also continue, and he says that In the animals receiving higher levels of results suggest both the toxicity and the PCBs," his 1975 presentation statad. tenacity of PCBa upon the more than "After two months on the PCB diet It too monkeys Dial have been involved was necessary to discontinue the expo to date. sure due to the seventy of the intoxica "Another group of females fed i tion. One of the six experimental ani ppm and .5 ppm PCBs for more than mals died four months after the inrtiaf two year* were bred after six months. , exposure to PCBs. The surviving adult Dr. Aden said racentty. "The mothers female monkeys continued to be devoid ahowed no abnormalities over a period of eyelashes and displayed fecial scne- of two yoara" at those level*. "Howev lorm lesions two years following expo er, their infants have shown the tame sure to the PCBa. Mama bom to these changes observed m the previously de females were smaB and contained PCBa scribed experiments." Ot 16 ternales-- ' M their tissues al bfrUt," eight fed the two levels of PCBs and Female meRteye Ml had been given eight controls, which received no PCBs 2.5 and S MRB PCBe in Mir diets de -- "eleven animats were bom. Seven _ veloped taaM Weeding, swollen eye survived- There were (spontaneous] lids. tees of hair. Inflammation of tha abortions," TI*! !"* monaar 'l thowo kin, and acne within two months. By Beyond this, the PCBa apparently monlh* amt attar icccmmp (he PCS bring about "learning disabilities, smalt toaa or ha* amt tcn infanta, altered immune responses--in- tents that ere more susceptible to com mon bacterial inlections--and learning and behavioral deficiencies. "t think wc can look at these data.' Dr. Allen told Environment Midwest, HONS 201269 11 I I / Lhi PCS ft* W I } I j fLr J "and My that PCBs ara extremely tox ic. The letus and me neonate--new born--*TM the most susceotbie to PCB exposure Thp adult may show no signs o( intoxication, yet there will be an ef fect on me infants or me fetuses It it hit opinion mat rhesus moniu.-y data being collected suggest mat \ 4 s. - should look closely a) me human oogu- lation...tor fetal and neonatal ciiecis that may be occurring These may be very aubtle. but they should be clari fied." (Admittedfy. such tests wt! not be easy "How are you going to ten >f a * child hat a little lower lO. or is a tittle 'r jSV more auaceptible to a bad cold, or is a c . little smaHer? ') A 'Sy Aa for any such PCO-releled studies f.... under way. Dr. Aden said lhai me N*- T ' fional tnefitute of Environmental l-tcaim % ' --- "hae a rather large study in North Car- \. olina. end a number of Stales have - smeller atudiea." . v Apperentty there >t time for such It afudiea. "I am not aware of any mei- f"-* of human intoxication by PCBs b beyond the Yuaho incideni and isolated Industrial cases. he said. There are no documented caaea ot PCB intoxication in the human population.'' XUrr petite, he added'. Maybe we haven t looked cloaety enough . but me reason we should do epidemiological studios (those that deal with incidence, dismb- ubpn. and control 01 disetM) to sec v H we do have a problem. "H there ere injurioua effect*. one hopes we ll be able to modify these through our own efforts, or through ro- r pair mechanisms in our own booms so . v* ' " that theta effects will be less toxic #* 1 ^ Yel. Dr. AHen says, Even though wt have no proof thai human biibios ,iru j affected. I would go along w<m 'ngina-. I .. . ; , ,,Yj UonaIn many Slates m the Oreat baxes LjuI hai-if Liw*u*ei area that pregnant mothers no! com **-- Oe KB* awed rhewa mwserx The t*m tier tish during pregnancy or whtie uurs- aMnwct TTlww wwoonrwarrvy Hon iaWw l-h---l--a---l--c--o-m--rof- - - won M Jpnr reco.w. M_ ^ .. * s torn PCin prr an tor m awaPis eebra p*Soo *** ta**- **# -Sh Ma or oeM and Ur. 1001 h -MOVI.MBIH 19/W HONS 201270 it / t 1 l Herring Guilt: New Indicator? The ran to tract down PCbs in tnwoiunonl lodew* Mverat pome. Samctmfl ink and omor teurro a* tend ter uni Jnd it cue tuck pent: i inwi It ebteour Arolher. newer *cM of momloftog tar RCb* It leiMoti tpecw*of gunmat. HkaMi. laadionimaftorMi. Ida fij* rnI* yufly no* afoul In order to fir'd tood. UnCka Mi, however tna tiuft y;nd to mono tofthor. and llwy art wff otaarvtd M High lM9l. And. according to me Canadian sciential oko it cairyoig ain nltncive rttnarch nidi Acai an M Gitat Ukn. diaaa euMa art a ucii mere tcnMnt fciiremvtar w accimwlakona el RCBt and edier cea> ttmnaMi man me km mat art totoad be cadi Stela and tie governmenu of ho* Ora U S. and Canada. Fmjoigt era to new mat mry ho*a net bean toddy pubtohed in atitm eke pournett. wtveh irewto peer review at new tritnkte ewdence. but bitorr.atwn abotn metreb an me henwig gud was prMooted In July d Pia annual Great Lakae Waanr OnMb Hint at pie totombkonal Jean Comnr-von flJCt at O-wei Eprtntog Me oort wat OowtMa Haseo. a reotfich ncrentiet wdb me Canadtoe bMdUa Snwa at Otiow* Dr. HC:tt tut bttoi kwwtood to abidtot of henmg gt*to Mae ms, when Canada 1 teteadabHi bed begwi around mo eacama a matar fla"tfie*` raoaaiM dbb. The etoto -- a nenaagretory opaelea tound todito aw eMbg NMeM IlMaaftotri aid oe/treutorty mroagheut era Greet lahae radbto--awto thatin tar aaaeral rrMane. Fk*t. may are tottod ttoeegbaeUto (Mat Lafcea rrgwn Rraeardiart to Sweden and to Japan wore aendbcena Unmet at Owl tamo Mia an Harroig putt pie PoJUc See aad ew Sea of Japan, ratpactorrty, Or. Hatrft taro, and were endtog ilnalid tovtoe of tow eontomnanlt too Urd* Mora urgent to I pro. knipi. wat Hw fact tial horrng guOi (to MO Ontario wwra known 10 bo to oouMo. and tow eontatamanta ware dm tuipoctod iaatent ItnvnAiehen tuccan ol mo bodt wat tortualy wra." Dr Hated tan Herrme out neoUatwnn .wo relatively itabto. M nefam They too to ri<kvHn toil .vr .il rn.-bOdied, odutti lend to nolo tor Me tom they i'e Mho year* Ol anc. he add* Ik-Jn. Ol fl/iivtt coy*. Ihrimg gito* mo too onty apacto* widi wlutIt k , r an nuiMy mononi the tHohmlciil etleel* ol contatoounl* on on annual Ujtw. u wrt u took | lirnJj in rendu* knot* Piumtelyin. to 14 Aatwiivi-# Phqvo 00 N tiey're goOig up w derm " The gua* are **pK>a*r visible bo- eawtP 'dtoy tottgreta tot wkola Graol Lakat tytlcrn oy aalmg to many H*h." ho toyt. Hit rwtorch i* booed ( to cofonwi of honing guH*. lien ed r Mtod and consoling gl .^ronmnleiy 100 larnAti Tee Cjm.^ ,r r,,,. cfnaan tw celontot at r;..ner and of Lake* Superior, Huron, li- ir ,1 Ontario. Sinca t9TS the U S Fish A VMtil* Service hat rnu"<infr 1 '*/j aatontoa of birda on Lake Michigan, nfuch to* eniueiy wito<n u s i.,..,1 - arlat. Thrat ttoda trt mode to each cctony tarn yew On r*v in;* v 1 ; onttolt Hitt COttot and Bun randomly Iciact 10 e<iqi om ly 1 n Motor*." (Face tomato urn tortt egos.) Theta tact are i.iti n i<. iu to laow laboratory and pulyrrd tor irrett ol bwacuimuin: -on o . "levels * toe agga rouciVy icbacl tonu* m me ncrt ol A.urit imi. in HaPon acyo. (Duma toicravv atudict--couth, Kd m icth-rr u 1 .,r Ontario and in mg>Tt an iaaa Erie--nj*ciurinn* ixa>e i.um ... ui >0 aduHa od toe whole two We nave tried to caoime : r.. -o blM wo can to* level* ol Wooccunmiahon m ihe motlier U-In-I. hij ir,. ggo") On too IrconO vtoN rototorhoia courH too numhm or ctnrin mo* h ..c hoiched, wtudt it a lurcm tttotanont at it* reunify level ot U" ,... Tbo plod Mm out. Or ttiloR lay*. iMetrdvnt "coum how many .x-'m.u- ty tew away " Remit* ol dil* reoonrtm trt tneowegmo. Or ttalleB i.iy* Tf* '- v of PCO* betwtow 1T4 aid tgrg have neereMed on a* ol n C'. .1 Laker according to analtieo ot mo hontog gut egg* lake On........ * "bock to normol. anu cl too toko* of* howooi normal rite*, he say* "ttmoig pm* on mo mereiio now Studying gud* * but *w* of *ovor*t way* lo mrwvior rhe rnv><r^n-< tor PCE* and Mha cant wiinto biat accutnulala m kving i>ki 1... j ..1 long aennds of tuna. "I Into* wo ctottotov nued lo eoniinui' tn - ' . < H*H. to bear out town eic loidifig to henmg O'l'H. IV " 11k 'i * FPA Mid Oltim aoon:** thir u commiti. d 111 omer.rinn 1 mom condnuo 10 menouf. and to bo focepuve in. ....... . v footing tow coMafMnaMidi toe wai Hur innrkiud bem nC. c-1 * - ? N CM/OCTOOf h - NOVEkaUt" i 1 '> MQNS 201271