Document BpRxJ4N0Y7aOnweXoOGenZBX

Monsanto MQIIMfTO MDUSTMAN ONIMtCALS OO00 N. UMMrfli Mi*vartf t. iMlt, Missouri 3107 ***#: 014) SS4-1000 May 5, 1983 Mr. Bill Richard* The Wall Street Journal 200 W. Monro* Straat Chicago, IL 60606 Daar Mr. Richard*: As a follow-up to our conversations, I an sending you photocoplea of several documents we dlscuaasd: Itea Subject 1 Monsanto Stary of PCB Uses, Envlronaental and Health Effects (November 1979) 2 National Cancer Institute Report - Bloassay of Carcinogenicity of Aroclor# 1254 3 Interdepartmental Task Force on PCBa, report of May 1972 (only Title Page, Preface, Findings, Conclusions and Recn--ndations Sections are provided. The total 1973 page report is available from NTZS.) 4 Appendix F (selected pages) of Itea 3 The anlaal studies relating to carcinogenicity are susBarlted on Page 5, Section 2 of the Monsanto report. As I indicated, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) anlasl study was performed hopefully to reeolve the discrepancy between the Rinbrough sad IBT (Monsanto sponsored) studies. This was the govemasnt'e attenpt at scientifically presenting the "last word" on this Issue. After the protocols were developed and agreed upon, the NCI ^htudy was swarded to an Independent contractor (Stanford Research Institute) for experimental work. NCI nonltored the progress of the study. As you can see In the HSU press release, the NCI results cans back negative, however the controversy lingers as to carcinogenicity of FCBe In anlaal studies. uH of MoftMMo Company HONS 003344 Hr. Bill Richard* -2- JHC 5/5/83 For all practical purpoaaa th* NCI rat feeding etudy by a different Independent laboratory was in fact a validation of similar etndlee perfoned by IBT. Th* reaulte were th* ease - in aclentlfic jargon, no atatlatlcal algnlflcant ralationahip batvaen Aroclor and cancer. Nor* recently (alnc* 1979-1980) atudlea of hunan occupational eapoeure of PCBe (1.*., epidemiology atudlee) have now been published In peer review journal*. Noet of thee* etudlea have been conducted by govern ment agenda* (NIOSH) and/or aponeored by Independent unlverelty aclentlat* and medical adentlet*. Some were eponaored by trade union* seeking to learn the facte about occupational expoaur* of their member*. The conaenaua la that cancer and other chronic lllneaae* have never been linked to occupational expoaur* to PCI*. The** occu pational expoaur** war* at algnlflcant level* for extended tine period*, In aom* caaea aa long a* 40 year*. Honaanto'a action* to voluntarily ceaa* PCB aalea and atteapt to control their entry Into th* environment 1* auamarlsed in th* Nonaanto Sunnary Document, Section 1. Supporting reaeon* for Noneanto'a action* are detailed in th* Reconmendatlon* Section of the Interegency Taek force Report (1.*., Page 3, Item 4, and Page 4, Item 6). In reepone* to th* question of whan Moneanto first reported lta data on th* IBT oral rat feeding atudlea of Aroclor*, a check of the litera ture in ay file* show* that report* of Moneanto animal etudlea on Arodora were made to FDA before June of 1970 and to th* Interdepart mental Taak Force at a meeting in Waahlngton on September 15, 1971. Certainly thee* report* were made aa aoon aa th* information waa available and algnlflcantly long before eny doubt wa* caat regarding IBT laboratory credibility (eee attached Item 4 taken from Appendix F of th* Interdepartmental Taak on PCB*, May 1972 report, Pag* 137). In addition, after report* of th* Kimbrough atudy were available, Moneanto directed IBT to review th* thTee chronic Tat atudlea and evaluate additional eeetlon* of ret liver* for thee* studies. Monsanto alao had an Independent pathologiat re-evaluate theae aam* liver tieeuee. The reaulte of th* IBT r*-*v*luatlon in 1974 of the original 1971 etudlea and the evaluation by th* Independent pathologiat were preaented to various government agencies and officials on November 13 and 14, 1975, Including NIOSH, CBQ (Council of Environmental Quality) Bouae Sub-Committee Manpower, Conpenaatlon, Health and Safety repre sentative*, FDA, EPA end NCI (National Cancer Institute). Over th* p*St 12 to 13 yeara, Monsanto haa responded rapidly and openly (and quit* properly) to inform official*, customer* and the public of PCB concern* and results of testing. In addition, Monsanto voluntarily took atepa to reduce production end thu* introduction of PCBa Into th* environment as well as providing Information and assistance for properly disposing of th* material*. MONS 003345 Mr. Bill Richard* -3- I hop* thl* Intonation la helpful to you. Sincerely /it Incloauraa bee: D. X. Blahop G. J. Lavlnakaa J. G. Naaalf L. J. O'Nalll Safety Director JHC 3/5/83 MOWS 003346