Document 70EoOjN5e6BdoN50oKNa29zJo

Monsanto ,.o,, D. Wood - B2SD - 2623 m*c -!***-* * ATt October 15, 1979 WtJfCT trtftSMCt Karen Newman Rocky Mountain Journal-Oct. 12th TO : R. C. I sham - BIND " J. C. Weber J. Ortiz F. Provorny Karen is covering the Lafayette Therminol FR1 incident and had been given my name by Bob Harding, Denver CPA. Q. When did Monsanto phase out of-PCBs? A. Started in 69-70. Final sales of dielectric grades in 77. Q. When did Monsanto become aware that PCBs might be a problem? A. Related Swedish work in 67-68, Yusho, confirmation of presence in U.S. environment leading us to begin phase out in 69. Q. Do we believe that PCB is as dangerous as EPA do? A. Different EPA representatives seem to have widely varying perceptions of the hazards associated with PCBs, often depending on how close they have been to the regulatory evolution. While we at Monsanto believed that the persistence of PCBs and the accumulation in the environment were good reasons to replace them in industry the hazards of PCBs are frequently overstated. / Q. We understand you talked to Wayne Darling. He reported that he had been told by Monsanto that PCB could not cause cancer. Is that true? A. We told Mr. Darling that PCBs had been identified by the scientific community as 'suspect carcinogens in test animals' but that the most recent study on Aroclor 1254 carried out by NIH had indicated that Aroclor 1254 was not a carcinogen, and that tests in Atlanta had shown Aroclor 1242 to have less effect than 1254 on test animals. Epidemiological studies to date had shown no causal relationship between PCB and cancer in humans. I did not believe myself that PCB was a carcinogen. Q. Does PCB cause birth defects? A. In the Yusho incident babies had been slightly lower than average weight at birth and in some cases skin pigmentation occurred. These symptoms had rapidly disappeared, We are not aware of any other birth defects related tio PCB. DW:pb PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT BIR C0776B DEPOSITION EXHIBIT 67/\ HARTOLDMONOO11184