Document B8wNK4bLkxRnM3B9v05rdk648

PCB ' 3/1/7 B 1. Q. Do PCB* cause cancer? A. There are allefitions Char PCBa cause cancer In tun, but we have no evidence to confirm this. (Toxicologist George Lsvlnskas says that even If PCBs do cause cancer. It won't happen until after the liver has been virtually destroyed.) . 2. Q. What did PCBa do to the workers who manufactured the material? A. Monsanto has had virtually no problems. Two Incidents of chloro-acne among workers -- at a Swann Corporation plant in the 1930* and one on ships during World War II -- were both traced to impurities, and not to the PCBa themselves. Presently, Monsanto la conducting an epidemiological study of 300 workers who were employed in the manufacture of PCBa at one time or another. We expect to have preliminary results within 6 months. 3. Q. How did the information about PCB akin problems among Swann employees become public in the 1930a? A. TWo dermatologists from Atlanta, G*., who served as consultants during tha plant investigation of employee akin problems, published their findings In "The Archives of Dermatology and Syphilogy" (Vol, 33, pg. 1027; 1936). 4. Q. What kind of testing has Monsanto done on PCBa? What taste are undarvay at this time? A. In the past, whan questions arose about worker safety, Monsanto conducted a number of subacute inhalation studies with rata. We used the data from these teats to set the threshold axpoaure for our workers. In the late 1960e, we initiated an extended aeries of studios on rats, dogs and chickens, and made our information available to the regulatory agencies. Bacauee of growing evidence independent of these studies that PCBa were remaining in the environment, Monsanto took action in 1970 and 1971 to atop manufacture and sale of PCBa to uaat in open application*. Results of our animal atudlaa wars latar used by PDA to sat accaptsbla levals for human Ingastion. At praaant, Monsanto la sponsoring a long-term study of the effect of PCBa on monkays -- looking at health and also reproductive effaers. 0133^ / PCB Q i A -2/ 5. Q. What do PCBs actually do to the environment? A. The original advantage of PCSa over other electrical insulating material haa turned out to be the cauae of preaent environmental problems. A heavy, oily liquid, PCB ia almost inert, and will burn only under excremely high temperatures. The material ia not soluble in water, which is why it persists in our waterways; it la soluble in fat, which is why fish in PCB-contaminaced rivers and lakes have measurable amounts of PCB in their fatty tissues. The FDA haa set what it believed were safe limits for human Ingestion of PCB over long periods. This amount -- 1 microgram of PCB per kilogram of body weight per day -- was then used to set acceptable tolerances in foods. The limit in fish, for example, is S ppm. The FDA monitors the levels of PCB in foods on a regular basis. 6, Q. When did Monsanto begin manufacturing PCBaT Why? A, PCBs were manufactured by Swann Corporation (purchased by Monsanto in 1935) in 1929 in response to the electrical industry's heed for an explosionproof insulating fluid for transformers. PCBs remained the "Cadillac" of the insulating materials, used in about 15 percent of electrical application* where special safety needs existed. Over the years, other applications were found for PCBs In heat-transfer systems, sealants, adhesives and printing inks. 7. Q. When did Monsanto stop making PCBaT A. In 1971 after scientific investigations had confirmed the presence of PCBe in the U.S. environment, Monsanto terminated sales of PCB to all non-electrical (open) applications. At the same time, we began publicising potential environmental problems and the need to prevent entry of PCBs into ehe environment. the Anniston, Ala., PCB facility was shut down at that time. Presence (or absence) of this facility has not been emphsslzed in the presgjJ In July, 1977, the company ceased manufacturing PCBs altogether with all inventory distributed by October 31, 1977. Monsanto could not responsibly stop manufacture earlier. The product mss is demand by our customers for a material which would prevent the possibility of electrical fires in apartment buildings and other hlgh- popolstlon trees. Mineral oils -- used in nose other applications -- have m stability problem that makes then potentially hazardous. In fact, fire insurance, building and electrical codes in nony pares of the country have traditionally required use of PCBs in high density population applications. Monsanto's timetable for withdrawal from the PCB business had the endorsement of the federal government; in 1975 then-EPA Administrator Russell Train said he would not ask Nonasnto to atop PCB production because that would shut down the electricel power industry and reilroede in short order. 116 3^5 PCB Q 6 A -3- B. Q. Do** anyone else still manufacture PCBa? A. PCBa are atlll being manufactured In Germany, Franc*, Spain, Italy and certain caatern European countrlea. Monaanto ceaaed manufacturing pCBs In Newport, South Walea. Theoretically, th* material could be Imported Into the U.S. market until 1/1/79 under TSCA. 9. Q. What la Monaanto doing to clean up the environment 7 A. There la no known technology that will guarantee 100X collection and dlapoaal of PCBa from mud and ellt bottom* of waterway*. Dredging, for lnatanca, doean't do much but reclrculata PCBa which have aettled Into the bottom of the waterway. Bight now. Incineration la the beat known technology for daatroylng PCBa. A leading Incineration aervlc* la developing equipment that will ahred a PCB capacitor and then Incinerate th* Liquid In one operation. For aeveral yeara, Monaanto operated a email Incinerator at our Krummrleh plane to help cuetomera deatroy PCB,vast* liquid*; a rag or other material contaminated by PCB* could not be Incinerated there. The incinerator la being dlamantled alnce more effective Incineration capacity la available elaewher*. Th* incinerator will be diapoaed of In an approved landfill for hesardoua waate. 10. Q. What ela* 1* being done to get rid of PCBa? A, Th* Ontario Foundation in Canada, General Electric'a Schenectady Lab and th* Inatitut* of PeraMntatlon in Japan are attempting to develop bacteria which will beoak down PCBa. Aleo, In November, 1977, MIT reported a new method of deatroying PCBa In water by ualog high-energy electron*. 11, Q. Are there any laweulta pending againat Monaanto for producing PCBa? for how much? A. A number of laweulta, including eaveral claaa action*, have been filed agmlamc Monaanto, alleging damage* and claiming that Monaanto failed to wan of th* alleged danger* of PCBa. Altogether, thoae aulta aeek more than $2 billion. 12. Q. Did Monsanto fail to warn of PCB dangars? A. Absolutely not. Proa the time PCB* were flrat Identified by the Swedish scientist In 1966-67, Monsento has played a major role In the resolution of this environmental mattar. For axampla, In the 1967-70 period, Monaanto . refined taat procaduras for determining the presence of PCBs. It undertook enlmsl feeding studies. Monaento hea made every effort to keep Its cuscomeT* end the pueile current on developments in the PCB environmental concern. #CN5 CIojvo '* PCB Q t A -4-' * 13. Q. What about nuralng babies? What Is the problem of PCBa In mothers' milk? A. Thera have been reporta that in a few Instances PCBa had been detected in human breast milk. We do not believe, however, that this Is a serious problem. The concern, of course, is chat breast milk might constitute the bulk of an Infant's diet. 14. Q. Where are the moat serious PCB pollution problems? __ A. PCBa have been found moat heavily In Lake Michigan and the Hudson River. They aeem to be located In the vicinity of former Industrial usera of the material. 15. q. Are you working with your former customers to do anything about the PCB problem? A. We heve been working closely with former customers ae they phase out of the PCB bualneee. We keep close watch of studies underway seeking to deal with ?CBe In the environment. 16. Q. What happened at Tuaho, Japan? : A. In 1968 there was accidental poisoning of an unknown number of people In Japan by Kaneml rice oil contaadnated with PCBe, The disease la now called "Tuaho" or "Tuaho oil" disease after the principal location Involved. Approximately 1,300 patients were treated because of actual exposure. An unknown number of children, born up to three yeara after their mothers' Initial exposure, also showed symptoms of the disease. Thera la much dInputa about the level of PCBa the people Ingested, but it la probably la the 800-1,000 ppm range. MCNS 01&347