Document 9Jb076LBYE9mxkLGMM4kXxyxq

cc: J 21, ru* de Berri 7WII PARIS ; -- Poisonous Industrial Wmlr Chemical Poses Threat in U.S. Despite Three Years of Curbs '' By Motion Mini/ WASHINGTON. Oct. 2# <\VP>. -- Poisonous industrial chemical* called PCS* are -widely content!* natlng the environment-- includ ing same drinking water--three years alter the U.S. government thought It had them "well in hand." a worried Environmental Troi ection Agency has revealed. rcB* (polychlorinated bipbenyls> at certain level* enu cause serious toxic effect* in human*. They threaten ihe lood chain ami. according to a recent tin. published report cited by the FTA. malignant liver tumors rtrveloped in rats exposed to ono pwvt per 100 billion o( a panic* u'ar PCB Introduced about 1930. rcn* havp been used mainly oa cool ing fluid* in rlectrlott (railslomicr* and oilier equipment, as lhiicU for electromagnets, as heuu transfrr fluids, as hydraulic oil. and as p'.asticirrrs lor waxes and adhesives. They also arc used In paints, printing inks, carbon less "carbon-' paper, and other products. Because PCB* are almost in destructible, they persist In the environment when they leak into It from products that contain or are exposed to them, or enter s< solid waste from manufactur ing:. as water clllurate, or as air emissions. Monsanto Stops Sale Monsanto Corp.. (hr Mile US. producer, voluntarily hud Mopped selling PCBs except lor use In closed eleciricaj systems. EPA and other agencies took various other actions. Indus!ty began trying to develop safer substi tutes But. the problnn worsened. EPA s official enforcer Stanley Lejro said, chiefly peceuse of ex ports from Trance. Japan and Italy, nnd because some Monlamo customers may have bought PCBs for unapproved purposes. High PCB level* recently re potted tn tlsh In the Great. Lakes area, the Hudson Hirer Valley and elsewhere underscore the urgency of llie problem." Dr. John Buckley, an EPA consultant and former official, told the Senate Commerce subcommittee on the environment. PCBs im pair the ability of fish to repro duce Contamination "Is more wide spread".and "some concentrations are higher than previously be lieved.'* Dr. Buekley told Sen. John Tunnev. D Calif., i.h* *ul> committee chairman. Tlireuien RrMttrrci There concentrations "greatly exceed'- Food and Drug Administiation guidelines, thus "threat ening our ecological resources-' and 'Impacting directly on the Job* of local fishermen and on available food supplies.'- Dr. Buekley testified "At the .'mite Mine, continuing PCil <liMh:ngrs are adding hnthev o ihc lotfcl environmental burden of the chemical, which degrades very slowlv Indeed." he Haggart --__________ _____ Mr. Lrgro said i.lie EPA has seveyal reportr, nf PCBs in tap water In the United Slates. The PCB problem "will not be adequately resolved-- unless Con gress empowers the EPA to regu- luifi mwmilacturr and Importa tion ot Mibstanee.i such a* PCBs by passing the projiosed toxic TMum an res control set said Dr nucklev, who endorsed Ihe bill on behalf ol the agency. HONS 0 6 1 2 1 9 i