Document 8OGEjzj76bNGm1gde4Naa7R8Z

This newsletter is published by EPA, Region V - Chicago ---BMfcm.............---- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PCBs Revisited "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 Dr. James Allen, a leading researcher on the health effects of PCBs on primates, and of Dr. Douglas Hallett, whose work is with herring gulls on the Great Lakes. By Susan Nelson At Environment Midwest went to weed cooking oil that had been contam were before regulations and the ban, as press, blood tests and bresst-mllk sam inated with PCBs. Health symptoms-- they continue to be when improperly ple* were being considered in the Weet skin lesions, constant abdominal pain, disposed of they do not break sport tor residents of nine States who had numbnass and pain at tha Hmbs, men into now. lees harmful chemical ar- -possibly besn exposed to PCBs in their strual disturbances, babies born with rangaments. Inataad they remain bend- food. Health officials had found PCB abnormally dark akin, forma of cancer, ad together (chfortna moteculee and bi contamination in food or animat feed in changes in the blood--have been and phenyl molecules) and hkiercumMats in Idaho, Utah, Montana, Washington, Or- continue to be documented by scien organisms throughout fee environment. agon, lows, North and South Dakota, tists who have followed up on whet is to other words. PCBs that have been and Minnaaota. And tha list of States now called the "Yueho" Incident. dJecharged into waterways, tor in. earns sure to grow. Manufacturers of PCBs and those stance, wUI remain there, or in the bot PCBs -polychlorinated biphenyls-- who transported and used tha chemi tom sediments, where organisms that have been called one of the moat per cal* began to reduce and restrict PCBs inhabit those waterways feed on PCB* sistent toxic .poNutants in the environ In the early I970e. In 1976 EPA contaminated matter. These nrjen ment Member* of a broad family of or banned tha manufacture of PCBs. On lame--from microscopic plankton to ganic chemicals known aa chlorinated July 2. 1979. EPA announced the total dneN fish to large fish and gutie to hydrocarbons, PCBs ware discovered in ban on use and transport of PCBs, ex man retain PCBs in varying levels in the late 1800s but wars not used in cept by EPA-approved permit. their bodies, particularly in the tatty tis dustrially in the United States until EPA'a Region V Toxic Substances sues and tha organs. As PCBemeve up 1929. Office sent registered tetters to the Re the food chain, from leeeer organisms Between 1929 and 1971, however, gion's 2.837 known users of PCBs be toward men, their concentration in- PCBs came into wide usage in Industry? fore the ban. (The largest users art creaaea. Their chemical and thermal stability, fee transformer repair or service compan The seme pattern is foNowsd if PCBs resistance, and good conductivity wero ies; heavy industries, including steal ars accidsotaify mixed with poultry properties that suited them ter electrical producers, that use transformers, capa feed, lor indtance, or If PCBe mo mixed transformars and capacitors. Other citors, and hydraulic systems; and utility with oil used In cattle beck stretcharo properties ot PCBs were well-matched companies.) The Toxic Substances staff in feedlots. ss happened Me last sum to the manufacture of such various has responded to more than 2,000 mer In Kansas. products ss plasticizers, adhesives, PC8*elatad telephone inquiries. And. Sines the ben on PCBe wee an paints, carbonless carbon paper, inks, and lubricants. in 1906 Swedish scientists:bsgsn to speak and write of the toxicity of PCBs. In 1908 some 1.200 people In Japan ss part of a nationwide program EPA nounced. the U.S. Pood end Drug Adbegan in January of this year, the staff imilir.aTeati,rsoHoumn, w-.ruot-cfnc pa- *rs-- s- sio_ w----s-oro has been making compliance inspec darde on PCBe in foods that humane tions of known PCB users. Results of set, announced it wee lowering PCB these inspections are being evaluated levels for (he tour toed imageries in were accidentally poisoned after they for potential EPA anforcament actions. which PCBe ere known to bo found. Ae Why SH the attention paid to some reported In Environment Mkhvaat in Au thing the eye can t even see? gust, these levels were ee toNowe, wNh PCBs are harmful. Once they ere re leased into the environment as they HONS GQS89Q IT IM/ttTdMB-NOYIMHA i st MAJOR PCB DISCHARGERS AND PROBLEM AREAS IN REGION V, BY STATE <Noncontamw>*tsd Gf*l Lakes rtvsfs ano harbors typically register PCB (avals of 1 part par mMHon (ppm).) STATE ILLINOIS LOCATION OP PROBLEM Waukegan Harbor North Ditch tributary to Lake Michigan MAXIMUM PCB CONCENTRATION 10.000 ppn .n sediments 245.000 ppm in sediments YEAR OtSCOVfRED 7S 1976 Bedford 30.000 ppm In sediments and stud 300 ppbiiiion in outfall wafer 1976 Bloomington Above 50 ppm in Nudge 1978 Indiana Harbor Saginaw River 28 ppm * in sediments 23 ppm* in sediments 1977 1978 MNNKSQTA OHIO no known significant discharge areas Ashtabula River Fields Brook tributary to Ashtabula RWsr Fox River Sheboygan River S3 ppm in sediments 72 ppm in sediments 6i ppm* in sediments 190 ppm in sediments 197 1977 1976 Soil adjacent lo Sheboygan River T 20.000 ppm 1978 i on currently avaHaOfe data. Further Investigations may yIeW aiQnltictntly higher concentrations of PCB*. lowered levels to become effective on manufacture, use, end transport, espe This dtuatlon it alac likely to change August 26. 1979: cially in the Mldweet. aoon. Region V naa received a had dot- Eggs...from .5 to .3 parts Region V Is number one in the Na an aopdcallena for MgMamgaralun in- per mtHlon (ppm) tion for heavy industries that require the clnaratora that propped lo tpepoae ol Milk end Dairy Prod use of PCBs, says Dr. Sheldon Simon, PCBa. Among tha appkcame. accordtog ucts...from 2.5 to 1 5 ppm director of Region V`a PCB program In lo Chariot ongatauaW ol Region V , Poultry...from 6 to 3 ppm the Toxic Substances Office. "People Hazardouo Wiotoo Brandt, art (Irma in Fish and Shellfish...from 5 me becoming aware of the ban and the Chicago, Chicago Haighla, OatroM. and to 2 ppm new regulations now," ha says. "And Mlddtatown, Ohio. Appilcotlona art Lower levels for ths first three industries should have had In-house ponding. Whan tha apgUcahona ara group* went Into effect, at planned, on programs since 1976" tor the proper daamad oomptata, a public noMca M August 26. But the National Fisheries marking, use. storage, and disposal of ba ioauad aohcMlng public commenta. institute, s trade association, tiled ob PCBs. Whan PCBa ara bumad at tempara- jections to lowering the standards for Indeed, it is the disposal of PCBs turaa too km to dtabo) tha moieculea. Nsh and shellfish and requested a hear- that poses the greatest threat to the en hay aacapa Into tha air, -tiara May ara lug. , vironment: The growing awareness of carriad by wind curranta lo tocabono Therefore, allowable standards for PCBe haa not yet brought about a simi hundrada or thouaando ol mdoo from PCBs in edible portions of fish and lar growth In finding end gaining ac tha-- aourea. It la thia typo ot burning shetfflah remain sf 5 ppm. Ths hearing ceptance tor property managed and ap dial la told lo ba in--oducing PCBa lo has yet to be announced. (It you want proved disposal sitae tor products con Lako Superior. Though lavatg thara Mg lo malt# your opinion known, either taining PCBe. below FDA'a standard,, sdenaata say supporting or opposing the new. lower Only seven such sites currently exist here la no other aourea lor Lako Supe level, sand your comments to Hearing In tike country tor lend disposal of rior PCB contamination than a-botno Clerk, FDA. Room 4-66, 6600 Fishers PCBe: In Niagara Fatta end Model City. pollution. EPA la conducting and bind- Lana. fiockviHe. MO 20667.) New York; Livingston, Alabama; Santa tng raaearch into tha PCB problem in The increased attention being paid to Barbara County, Catifomia; Beatty, Ne Lake Superior, aa wab aa PCB raaearch PCBs no doubt comae from a better-in vada; Arlington, Oregon; and Grand throughout the country. formed publle--as wail as the much View, Idaho. An application haa just It la to combat Impropar dtapeaal tighter regulations that pertain to PCBs. been approved that establishes Region tachntguaa and to and tha atochpMng (For a copy of CPA 's Find PCB Ban Vs ftrat PCB land disposal eke in Cler ot PCB waalaa that la Inindobla untK Ruts; Over TOO Qtmtiom J Answers mont County, Ohio, near WtWamaburg. To Hdp You Meet Theat flequfremenfs, Property managed lendfftie and high- found and approaad--that EPA la a^ write to EPA's Office of Toxic Sub temperature incineration are the only plying much at ba aftorta. ^ stances. TS-799, Washington, DC two known mean# for disposing of 20490.) PCBs. Only one such incineration facili Unfortunately, there is much more lo ty currently exists, a Genaral Electric controlling PCBs than banning their Company Incinerator in Waterford; New York, that is permitted to accept only on-site PCB wealea. Suaan Wriaon la a writar/adNer wahCPa Aaeien v HONS 008891 tM/ocroaen-noveM-entare Monkeys React Oraeticall to PCBs Or. James Allan, an experimental tha fourth month, Irregularitiss in the pathologist at the University of Wiacorv menstrua) cycle were recorded. Six of am Medical School, is a leading re the eight females that were bred after searcher in tha field of health effects of six months of PCB sxposurs conceived; PCS contamination. the other two did not. (All of the con He began PCB studies--"primarily trol-group females conceived.) Of those their ability to stimulate the enzymes that did conceive, "tour experienced that control liver function "--in 1967. early abortions." All eight of the 2.5 When the Yuaho incident occurred tn ppm females conceived, but only ftve Japan in 1968, he aeys, "we expanded carried their Infants to term. (All of the our work to include more, clinical stud- control females carried their infants to lea. term.) All PCB-exposed infante were "In a relatively short time we found small, "and at birth their skin contained that rats wars relatively poor subjects. detectable levels of PCBs. We switched to rhesus monkeys in "The infants were permitted to nurse f966-69 and found that they more' for four months," Dr. Allen reported cloaely approximate symptoms ob- four years ago. Within two months the servtd in man." infants showed swollen lips and eytHds, Or. Allen presented results of PCB toss of eyelashes, lesions, and in studies -- of rhesus monkeys at the creased pigmentation of the skin. Wisconsin Rsgionsl Primate Research "Within tour months, three of the six in Center--at EPA's National Conference tents that had survived died due to PCB on PCBs. held in Chicago in November, intoxication.' ' 1975. Hie resuits startled the scientific Or, Aden's studies of the effects of world. PCBs on rhesus monkeys has contin Female monkeys that had been fed ued. with the lest group of infants bom 26 ppm PCBs in their diets "developed early in 1979. Hie evaluations of the facial listens similar to those observed studies also continue, end he says that In the animats receiving higher levels of results suggest both the toxicity and the PCBs." Ms 1975 presentation Mated. tenacity of PCBs upon the more than "After two months on the PCB diet it 100 monkeys that have been involved was necessary to discontinue the expo to date. sure due to the severity of the intoxica "Another group of females fad 1 tion. One of the six experimental ani ppm and .5 ppm PCBs for more than mate died four months after the initial two years were bred after six months." exposure to PCBs. The surviving adult Dr. Aden said recently. "The mothers female monkeys continued to be devoid showed no abnormalities over s period of eyelashes and displayed facial acne- of two years" at those levels. "Howev form lesions two years following expo er. their Infants have shown the same sure to the PCBs. Infants bom to those changes observed in me previously de females were email and contained PCBs scribed experiments." 01 16 fernties in their tissues at birth." eight fed the two levels of PCBs and Female monkeys that had been given sight controls, which recsived no PCBs 2.6 end 6 ppm PCBs in their (Mats de -- "steven animals were bofa. Seven veloped facial swelling, swollen eye survived. There were (spontaneous] lids, toss of hair, inflammation of the abortions." TNs IMaS monkty it thorn Mow rwttm% 2S akin, and acne within two months. "By Beyond this, the PCBs apparently monSw onS *Aw rocokws ** PCf <*tL Tko mow bring about "teaming disabilities, smell boo of Mr one ocno. infants, shared Immune responses--in fants that are more susceptible to com mon bacteria) infections--end learning and behavioral deficiencies. "I think we can look at these data. ' Dr. Alien toid Environment Wriwa*t HONS 008892 "and My that PCS* ara extremely tox ic. Tho fetus and tho nsonsts now bom--ara the moat auacapdbta to PCS exposure. Thg adult may show no aigne of intoxication, yt Viera wM ba an af fect on tha infanta or tha fatuaaa. It ia hia opinion that rhaaua monkey data baing coOected suggest that "we should look ctoaaly at tha human popu lation...for fatal and neonatal affacts that may ba occurring. Thaaa may ba vary aubtta. but (hay should ba danhad.'' (Admittedly, such lasts wM not ba aasy. "How ara you going lb tan if a child has a lithe lowar IQ. or is a mpe mora suacephbto to a bad cold, or la a HtttaimMsr?") At for any such PCfrrolatod studks undar way. Dr. Allan said that the Na tional tnstttuta of Environmental HaaNh "has a rathar targe study in North Car olina, and a number of Status haws smsMir ltudlaa." Apparantty thora ia time for such studios. "I am not awart of any irict- denta of human intoxiesfion by PCSa" bayond tha Yuaho inddsnt and Isoimad industrial casts, ha said. "'There ara no documantad caaaa of PCS Intnrrtrallnn in tha human population.' After a pauaa, ha added: "Maybe we haven't looked* doaaiy enough...but tha raaaon wa should do spldsmloioglcal sfudias (those that deal with Incidanca. dtatrib- ution, and control of dioaaoa) is to sea If wa do have a proSlam. "If thara era iniurtoue affects, one hopes we'b ba able to modify those through our own efforts, or through re pair mschamams M our own bodtoe so that thaaa offsets wdl ba laaa toxic " Yat, Or. Aten say*. "Evan though wa have no proof that human babies are anecreo, wou^o go a^sag vmn rogm^h^ tions in many Slatoa In the Greef Lakaa area that prognant mothers not con- Mow do PCte sheet rtwmm monkoyt? The adult lewder tore art eridonee. The monkey on the Off 0 control: ho one on the right neUwrf eurne (potentially PCS-contaminetad] hah during pregnancy or white nurs- 5 ppm PCS At tor dsf tor ah moo* totore Pure mi faton. woto HONS 000893 TOMB'NOVEMBER 19/9 13 iHk Naar Indteator? tea.AaaMa.aararaaaa* 1 aateiaaMracta* ' Haga gal *al Mg M* BaMaaaaHai id. UniMtatrliMMIMill* Miga*iigM<f.*iaHi.aa*tergnaaalr<*aanaaB B.*aaaMa|Bteeaa*k*aaiaaaaaalBbgariaa mr* aa tea gate ana UMa * a *WtaaaaaraaaaaR*aaaa*j|fCteaa*aaarga. aa M aw an (Mte'tr ateTteo * te aana*. fttaiCaa* ' HiH M| ar ***." T*a.*Ma a* aaaaaharatalMBa. **,"***. " ` * " a Inn* M aaMg -- aar ' . .. , ... 1*1--jummalboanHn*! --, aaaHaaiiMW. 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Tha aaa a rcw aaaaaaa 1*74 ana rara aaaa aa.......a aa aa al aa Maa taka* aaaaanaaaalranal **** aaaa. lata own w* . a aa aaaa aaa arum aaa," or. aaM aaarJaaaaaaaiaRtetaaiM.lagaalaha.T)ar*M ra'aaa aa******; aaaa aaa a aaa *r aa aka* a R aaa. ha a*a* t ___ _ __ HMaa aaa* "Wana* **M aw te aM apaDM aa* aa* m aa* a aaaaa a naaa Maa a tena* aMa a a* aaa at aaaaai aaaa a ante aa aMnaaa* * *** al Ma. "I a** aanaMr aaa* a gaaMaa a aaam ag*,a*MgaiaaBaagB'B*iajavaharaaaaa.''M. raiaaiar* P aa gaa apawaa aia aa eaaaaaa a graaaMa aa aaaa aa* aaaMaa a aaaa. aa* a la i*nM*'i a. aaa aaMaDaiM * h aamaraal Maaaaa ^aaW*>sM HONS 008894 EM/ocTOK* -NOVEMwn tara