Document 7bGn00n8e68ZKQ6VJ9rvRBEE

IRON MOUNTAIN, MICH, NEWS D. non i ... JUN 1 6 1975 4** Natural Resources panel, urges ban on use of PCB LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- than an outright ban. legislative leaden. The Michigan Natural Fish in Lake Michigan have Chemical levels of DDT and Resources Commission urged PCB levels above the limits most other chemical con* the legislature and the nation allowed by the U.S. Food and iaminants have declined In Friday to ban use and production of a chemical which is contaminating fish in Lake Michigan. The chemical,, poly* chlorinated biphenyl (PCB), IS used in a variety of household products. The vote Drug Administration. Michigan since 1070, teat The FDA has seized some show, shipments of Chubb caught in . But Turney said levels of Lake Michigan because PCB PCB in Lake Michigan have levels were found to be up to 30 stayed the same or increased parts per million. The FDA le* in different fish sampled. gal level is five parts per mil* When PCB was first dis* Hon. Human health could be covered in Saginaw Bay in was W. endangered at a level of 900 1999. levels of the chemical In ; "We hope this state will lead parts per million, the FDA catfish were up to 900 parts ' the nation in banning PCB," the commission said in a statement. Commission Chairman Carl Johnson said said. . PCBs appear in a wide range of products, from paper 'o hand soap. par million, ."We're not unique. Other states, if they take a look at it, will discover that they have sees no alternative other The sole U.S. manufacturer similar levels to contend 1 . is Monsanto Chemical Co., of with," said Howard Tamer, j St. Louis. The company agreed in the early 1970s to stop selling PCB for some Industrial uses. But the chemical has since been ] sold for other industrial, com* director of the DNR. "I would like to see Michigan lead the way (In banning use of PCBs) because I think it could be much more detrimental to mankind than . mercial and household use. we had realized." said "A ban ia a drastic step to Johnson. ; take, but this is a drastic prob- Teste at the University of lem," said William Turney, Wisconsin showed Rhesus | director of water monkeys became ill. even at; management for the levels of less than five parts Departmant of Natural per million. Resources. But Turney emphasized the There was no Immediate re* [ tests are only on monkeys snd ponse to the ban ^dea from . that the evidence does not ' ' ! mean human beings are af- footed by those relatively low I levels. HONS 031242