Document 4vERKpabeN6o44L9mE1ZbVKxa

G G >. C May 26, 1970 Mr. C. L. Baden-Powell 38 Walker Avenue Toronto, 190, Canada Dear Mr. Baden-Powell1 Your letter addressed to Monsanto Company expressing your concern of environmental contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls was forwarded to me for reply since 1 have been assigned the responsibility for studying the problem. X assure you that we also are concerned with recent developments in what appears to be a worldwide pro blem. As you probably know, Monsanto has been producing Aroclors, some of which have boon linked with PCB's, for over forty years and in our total experience we had no adverse effects on our employees and are not aware of any effects on our customers' employees. We are extremely puzzled by what appears to be a worldwide distribution in our environment, even in some remote areas. We cannot explain thl3 distri bution when we consider where arid how PCB's are used. To better understand the problem, we are conducting many different studies. Hopefully, these studies will provide Information regarding the identity of the material, how it gets into the environment and how it effects the environment. We are also working with, and are very interested in, what is determined at the University and Governmental laboratories, many of which are studying the PCB problem. * MONS 0fl95i3 -2- c While awaiting additional information, we have taken measures in our plants and with our customers to reduce the material escaping into the environment. Our strong recommendation to the United States Department of Agriculture to ban the use of our material in insecticide formulations is an exanplo of our attempts to control contamination. You may also bo interested that we have been dis cussing the PCS problem with Hr. F. R. Phoenix, Supervisor of Field Services Branch, Division of Industrial Wastes, Ontario Water Resources Commission, 135 St. Clair, Toronto, Ontario. In summary, we are concerned, we need more information and we are actively seeking it, wc have reduced the chances for further contamination, and we plan to take action as indicated by new information. Sincerely, W. B. Papageorge Manager Environmental Control ms c HONS 089514