Document EdMeNByObZmdvvoyXGdeB607b

3/19/79 FYI J. S. Kctcalf R. C. Isham FROM: Glynn Young V.3. ^ (\\\c- ' r-;973 1 7 '.572 'f'""*' [T T - _ -Vs .. e */TiTT5*-j*{jj)/ra*rr.T jr,c -;j-fv} r?f -r ** 1 "** Ji3_ ' : ' r !I : Ti !. ."?s ----- , * Jlii.1 TT *- : : V ' -.i .- V>^--- si, ^ "i -iw vi. /7N . V '/-'Y :/`p *y;"ri/p*-^ --' o 71o o .-'"r *" /*r \ ,<K i t ' .-~~'.vr a~ V 'v- ULii ByJ*iFrRlt - *->ibswmiaus:iif writer The deadly chemical "dioxin" dis covered last v. io': in ina cai boiic acid spilled in Sturgeon Je.n. 10 is not usually found in such acid and may have boon coerce by a flaw in the manviacl,, _ in:; process used' by the Monsanto G:tn:icai Co., a Monsanto spokesman ssid Friday. The dioxin was discovered by Mon santo after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requested testable preparations be made from a reserve sample held by* the chemical manu facturer for quality control. "We have checked samples of orthoclitorophenol (the ?citil before, and we've never found any evidence of dioxins present," said Bob Ixhnm. a public relutiens official for Mc-nsanto. "We've got some people looking into it and they are cheeking to sec if something in Hie process can be corrected." l.-ihmn raid the chemical manufac ture is complicated and it may take u while for the firm to find out how the impurities were produced in the material that was sullied in Sturgeon. The federal government did not know the reserve sample e:::.s:ed until a panel of medical experts suggested calling the manufacturer to find more of the substance for tests. Harry Gilmer, the on-r.ito EPA uf- ficial, said Monsanto made its own decision to test the sample for cuxtn. Ike firm's action was not because of a request by Lite EPA. Gilmer said. Gilmer said EPA rei;nested on Feb. > that Mensual! prepare two samples from the centre! sample and send them to 1-TA huumlorie:; fur lest ir.;; for dioxin. Tiri*, evening, Monsanto c.'lied and said it kni tested the suHinik.e and iV*:;.vircd die-at s, but said I'.wy were i:::;to\ie.t'fi:.;ii'isaid. Il vas not until ike samples from Sturgeon were taken to the Universty cf UUueis for tcMiiut cn a sennilive picce or equi;*.meat Hint the toxic -3*7-8 form of dioxin was discovered. GiUiv.'r raid. !owever, that the exact, nature of the dioxin is siili not know n. **Thn 2-3-7-8 is suspected luit ; e do not have positive proof." he said. "My chene.zt says that it i>n't present and I have no reason to duu'.u his opinion." IUiv. the dioxin, whatever its lvt>\ get into .ho orllicdiuuvpbenol rema-nx a mystery. Rut. Isham said, rlthough Miiiis.ve.to will attempt to discover its origin, "ii is noil ling that concerns us." "We've been making the product for 30 or *10 yems and we've never ex perienced any problems Iviciv," he said. "The levels of the dioxin arc so low that they are not a problem." The EI'A will continue to monitor air in .Sturgeon o.-.l take blood samples of tha.o who ore riiov.i::;; any physical reaction in cleaning up the .spill. C00527