Document DKae9p0Y3gv5KKV3mdrMzjZN

espite.PCBs, tperte-Approve reast-Feefling By Victor Cohn Pvi K'li Wrl*M Federal and private health specialiM* concluded ycMcrday that American mother* can continue to breast-feed their babic* despite the presence of trace* of industrial chemical culled PCB* hi mother** milk sampled} n II state*. But the specialist*--merlin? at the National Insti tute* of Health to consider the new public health problem-called for Immediate studies to find out whether Ibo PCD* are doing babies any barm. Pointing to newly disclosed effect* in infant moilkeys, they said the effort should include research to nee whether even low PCB levels in a baby * diet might cause later learning disabilities or hyperactiv ity- Both ol these effect* appeared In monkey* whose mother** milk contained PCB levels not far above aomc found in 78 of the 80 mother* sampled in II slate*. . Several federal officials also advised pregnant women, as well as all girls or women who expect to have babies some day. to avoid eating any sport fish Identified by authorities as PCB carriers. The officials addressed this recommendation even to girls because PCB*--polychlorinated biphenyl*-- lodge in human, or ofhci' animal, fat and once there remain for many year*. f'Ctts first came Into wide Industrial lire In (he 1930*. Their largest ut-e today is in electrical ma chinery. Only since the mid-1950s has it been learned that they have widely contaminated the entire industrial world's air. waters and soil. * The Environmental Protection Agency yeaterday reported that the chemical* have now been found in amounts ranging from traces up to potentially harmful in 79 out of 801974 and 1975 nursing moth er's milk simple* fit II state*. EPA added Indian;, lo the list though only one Indiana result was avail able--3.2 parts of PCB tier million In the milk fat. The average amount found In milk fat In the 11 states was 1.8 parts. The other JO stales are Vir ginia. Maryland. Florida. Georgia. Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania South Caro lina and Tennessee. Among those 10 states the high est average level, 2.8 pari*, was found in North Carolina. SPA officials alto reported that PCB levels had been low and falling In foods other lhan-aome fish and nonexistent reeontly In prepared Infant food*. Though no effects have been seen In human be ings. none has been looked for. Dr. David P. Ball paid, and "this la what we have to do now, and ef forts have already started." Ball Is director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sci ences. ' "Boujhly 51 per cent of u? have one to to pari* per million ol PCB* in nur hlO'Xi new.'* Mid Thum-ts Korp cf r;PA. 'They're yoipg to he in u* for years " Level* like 18 are called not much move than a trae.r. Pm Dr. Jamej. Alien of the I'nlvmMv ol " i:emtain told of studies on rhesus monkey* in wliiih there Mere untoward eflednon babies whose ninth era' milk fat contained a* little a* 4 to 6 part* per million of PCB*. Although none of the PCB aver.v.c* In mother'' milk fat in the 11 stale* reached llun-e levels, Hie amount In some individual mothers' milk did. HONS 0 3 1 * 71