Document GKn5J1kzmM34o0ZJMY0n0r8Br

0 A p7 /> NOTICE: This material may be Protected by coPyright law (Title 17* U-S. Code). PCB-ARCH-EXT0375933 This section of Veterinary and Human Toxicology will be devoted each issue to news and announcements from the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT). Dr. Mark Thoman, 1426 Woodland, Des Moines, IA 50309, is the AACTion Editor and Associate Editor for AACT. MARK'S REMARKS "IT'S PCB TIME AGAIN" Perhaps some of you say the Public Broad casting System's OCtober 2nd "NOVA" program dealing with toxic environmental contamina tion. Among the chemical toxins which the program pursued .with journalistic vigor was the ubiquitious polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB. To give you a feeling of the program content a segment of the section on PCBs is cited below. JASON ROBARDS: "In the mid-1960s. Dr. Robert Risebrough was at Bodega Bay, California working on a scientific problem. Why was the peregrine falcon dis appearing as a species? Initially it was thought that the herbicide DDT was responsible. "A peregrine falcon egg found in Baha, California was brought to the University of California Karine Laboratory at Bodega Bay for examination." DR. ROBERT RISEBROUGH: "There were very high levels of the DDT compound in that egg, which was surpri sing because it was a remote area of Baha, Califor nia, but there were also high levels of these other chemicals which we'd been seeing up until that time in other species of birds, fish up and down the coast, without knowing what they were. Because this parti cular species was disappearing, apparently for en vironmental reasons caused by pollution, it became very important to find out what these other chemi cals were and that led us to the discovery that they were PCBs. JASON ROBARDS: "Like DDT and dioxin, PCB is another petro-chemicsl based on the benzene ring. It is de rived from the binding together of two such rings. JtJhe rings are changed wit-K-(heat and' bind together to become a biphenyl. Varying amounts of chlorine are added to make a polychlorinated biphenyl. Other wise known as PCB." BARRY COMMONER: "PCB is a kind of case history for ' many of the mistakes that the petro-chemicaI industry has made. In this case, we've got pretty good records. The first plant that began to produce PCB began to operate around 1930. in Anniston, Alabama. One com pany, now, manufactured PCB: Monsanto. We now know that within the first two years after that plant operated, 23 out of the workers in the plant were seriously ill with chloracne. By 1933 or so, the Mon santo Company knew from the effects on their own workers that they were dealing with a very dangerous substance. Ten years later, they were told by a health agency that human contact with PCB should be avoided. Thirty years: it would have been prudent for Monsanto to give up the manufacturing of PCB. They did not and in that time, enormous amounts of it were dissemina ted in the environment, and 1 thir.k that the industry failed to respond to the signal of the toxicity of ma t e r I a 1." JASON ROBARDS: "Despite its dangers, the manufac turer of PCB grew to gigantic proportions. A total of a billion and a half tons from the time it was . first made. The main use, initially, was for power transformers. Heat and fire resistant properties of PCB mad it of special value for such devices. Later, PCB was found useful in entirely new ways. In making fluorescent light bulbs in TV.sets. Through large scale manufacture it also was able to replace existing products such as carbon paper. "(Kyashu), Japan, was the location of the first incident involving PCBs in public health. In early 1968, PCB was accidentally mixed with (yusho), the rice oil used for cooking in that part of Japan. At least 1300 people we re affected with problems rang ing from chloacne to swelling of eyes, eyelids and body joints. The same types of problems reported to industry 35 years earlier. "There has been an abnormal incidence of miscarriages and stillborns in that part of Kyashu. Babies born of victims, have had some of the same problems as their parents. One baby may have gotten the disease from milk nursed from its mother, who had eaten the poison ed oi I . "Halfway around the world: New York's Long Island, and more evidence of the widespread danger. In the early 1970s scientists began to find PCBs in terns, which they concluded may be responsible for the defor mities in news Iy hatched birds, and the failure of some eggs to hatch at all." RICHARD H0NHS0N: "One thing we've learned from PCB is that the world has become very, very small. We've been measuring PCB in the ARtic, we've gone to Antartica, to measure it in snows; we've been measuring it in oceans over the owrld. Twenty years ago when we went to these places they were remote from human activities and that's not true anymore. And all parts of the world are: now subject to po)Tut ion that may come from any industrial country." JASON ROBARDS: "PCB has become so widespread it is now found in the milk of nursing mothers throughout the world. Scientists in North Carolina are studying how much PCB passes.from mother to child and to see how dangerous that may be for the child's health. In other human milk studies, seven times more PCB has been found than what is permitted in cow's milk for human consumption. The milk samples are sent from North Carolina to Raltech, a Wisconsin Laboratory, where the contents are analyzed. Raltech is able to detect trace amounts, minute quantities of the sub stance, by using new scientific techniques and instru ments which have helped spur the detection of danger ous toxic in people's bodies." "PCB has not only been an environmental problem, it has also created major economic disruption. At Mon santo headquarters in St. Louis, Dan Bishop..." Do you get the gist? At about this same time 17 barrels containing PCB were found on a farm in Lafayette, Colorado. The barrels ^7-^ PCB-ARCH-EXT0375934 t\vere stamped Therminol FP-1, a trade name for *PCB. The occupant of the fan^S thinking the shortage. We wers-Jnstrumental in founding the Chemlco Industry InstituT Toxicology, which does long- barrel contained coal oil, nbAred the martufac- range testing of materials used throughout our indus tuJ r was Monsanto Chemical Company, St. Louis try, as well as basic research into areas like carcin Mit:-.ouri. The owner, deciding the chemicals ogenesis. And we are now pioneering the development were hazardous, left them alone. When they of a major new computerized system to monitor worker viewed the program ''NOVA" they became quite health and environmental exposure.) alarmed since they had been eating eggs from chickens that were allowed to run free where To set the record straight on specific details of the now deteriorating and leaking barrels the NOVA program: Monsanto has been and is very con were located. Testing was carried out of var cerned about the environmental problems posed by poly ious substances on the farm. The farm's occu chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We believe that the pants also had a sample of breast milk checked history of Monsanto's involvement with PCBs demon inasmuch as the farm-wife was nursing her in strates concern and an effort to deal with the pro fant. The -result, 1.8 ppml. The family contact - blems responsibly. Production of PCBs was begun in ed me because of my previous senate testimony 1929 " not to "invade markets of previous substances," and involvement in the area. I have been at as Dr. Commoner said, but to provide increased fire tempting to update my current knowledge on any resistance with improved insulating fluids in elec acute or chronic cases of PCB poisoning in trical power supply equipment. Mineral oil, the ANY baby who is breast fed. Except for the standard fluid for such uses, has flammability and Yusho incident inJapan in the late 1960s and performance problemsthat make it a potential hazard early '70s I know of none! I contacted Monsan in specific applications. to for current information and they sent the following: ' I Dr. Commoner said that Monsanto knew by 1933 "from the effects on their own workers that they were deal Statement from Monsanto Company ing with a very dangerous substance." The facts show that, in 1933 when the skin disease, chloracne, began ' The Public Broadcasting System's "NOVA" television appearing among workers in the PCB plant at Anniston, program, "A Plague on Our Children," presented an in Alabama, the company immediately launched a medical accurate and slanted look at some serious problems investigation. As a result, steps were taken to change of the chemical industry. Unfortunately, the program to a closed manufacturing process in which all chemi left the impression that the industry as a whole and cal reactions occur in a sealed system, which in Monsanto in particular are unconcerned and irrespon turn alleviated the problems. The appearance of chlor sible, an implication that is untrue and irresponsible acne, which is a painful but curable skin disease, did in itself. ' . not lead Monsanto at that time to suspect that PCBs were "a very dangerous substance." The bias of the program's producer, Robert Rich ter, was cited by The New York Times television re In the late 1960s, the first signs of environmental viewer, who wrote: "There is no doubt that Mr. Rich problems turned up in two separate events r one in ter sympathizes with the critics, typified by Barry Sweden, the other in Japan. The latter was referred Commoner, the author and activists." Furthermore, a to in the NOVA program, though the report was in error. number of statements in the program made by Dr. Com In 1968, PCBs produced by a Japanese manufacturer moner about Monsanto were either incorrect or reflec had been pumped through a leak directly into rice ted only a portion of the truth. oil; about 1,300 Japanese became ill from eating the rice oil. There were no stillbirths or miscarriages Monsanto acknowledges that1there are problems as linked with the incident, as reported in the NOVA pro sociated with chemicals - either through their mis gram. use or through some earlier industry practices which today's technology has shown to be inadequate. Mon The Swedish findings, based on new analytical santo agrees these prob1ems exist, and we have re techniques, suggested that PCBs could accumulate in peatedly spoken out for a cooperative effort by indus fish and should be studied further. try, government, academia and other groups to address the problems in a cooperative fashion. Those who sim When scientific investigations first confirmed the ply shout from the sidelines add nothing to solving presence of PCBs in the U.S. environment in 1970, and the problems that exist, and indeed are counterpro before the potential impact was determined, Monsanto ductive. voluntarily began a program to terminate sales of PCBs to open applications and to limit supply of PCBs to Monsanto has consistent1y.endorsed reasonab1e re the electrical power distribution industry, as die- gulation of chemicals; further, there is ample evidence elcctric fluids in "closed" or sealed systems such as our company has a commitment to health and environ transformers and capacitors. Preventive steps were mental protection. We denounce implications to the con also taken in the manufacturing, labeling and trans trary. port of PCBs. ' ' (Monsanto has some 8k0 managers, scientists and tech nicians working exlusively on worker, product and en vironmental safety. In 1978 we spent nearly $200 mil lion on this work. We have established a top-level Environmental Policy Staff to manage the impact of our business on the environment and the worker. We have completed a $12 million toxicology laboratory for long and short-range health effect studies. We've mounted a $500,000 program to help finance the academic train ing of toxicologists and to reduce the present acute (EE) In 1972, Monsanto's voluntary program was reviewed by a Federal Interdepartment Task Force, which sup ported and endorsed it, including a recommendation that research should seek acceptable replacement pro ducts that were less persistent in the environment, even for closed systems. Near the end of 1975, the then-EPA Administrator Russell Train said he would not ask Monsanto to stop production of PCBs because that would shut down the electrical power industry and the railroads in short order. PCB-ARCH-EXT0375935 , The NOVA host announcer, said the "sale and manu facturing of PCB was banned as of 1 and Or. Com moner said, "The action was taken fiicixtoo late."Vhat neither bother to mention was that Monsanto voluntar ily 'total ly ceased production of PCBs in 1977- Monsanto's plan to totally end production was announ ced by the company in October, 1976- At that time the company pointed out that fire Insurance, building and electrical codes and regulations in many parts of the counry have traditionally required the use of PCBs in high density population uses where violent electrical failure involving a flammable fluid could result in a catastrophic fire or explosion. The company also ex plained that the phaseout period was constrained by the necessary testing and perfecting by the electrical industry of acceptable replacement products, which had not existed earlier. Production of PCBs by Monsanto was halted in July, 1977-' The disposal of PCBs today is under the jurisdic tion of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Although PCBs are no longer imported into the United . States, they are still produced by firms in Germany, Prance, Spain, Italy and certain eastern European countries. There has never been a documented case of human death or irrecoverable harm from PCBs. Also, the Na tional Institutes of Health reproted. in April of 1978 that the most commonly used PCB product was not car cinogenic in rat feeding tests.(see attached NIH news release). : In speaki ng.about the Toxic Substances Control Act, Dr. Commoner said, "As far as I can tell, the indus try is going to squeeze every loophole out of that situation that they can." Monsanto in fact supported and urgen Congressional approval of the Act in 197b. At that time, Mr. Hanley said, "As part of Monsanto's responsibilities to society/ we rocognize and support the need to adhere to tough and reasonable standards to control toxic substances. We hope that this legis lation will be signed into law by President Pord. and implemented in a reasonable and effective manner through government and industry cooperation." The NOVA program also described an incident' in North Carolina, in which PCB contaminated oil was ' dumped along rural roads. The program did not report that those who were responsible, from a small waste disposal firm; were convicted and given jail sentences. - The NOVA program also visited Monsanto's Nitro, West Virginia, site, where a health study is being ; carried out on workers who were exposed to trace amounts of the toxic impurity, diozin, during pro duction of the chemical 2,k,5-trichlorophenol (2,k,5"T). The study discussed in the program is sponsored by the United Steel Workers union, in cooperation with New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center. The program did not mention that Monsanto has also funded a health study there, under the complete control of Dr. Ray mond Susskind, director of the Institute of Environ mental Health at the University of Cincinnati and a recognized authority on the effects of dioxin expo sure. That study began over two years ago, in mid1977. It is being done, In part, in hopes to con firm the findings of our own on-going medical moni toring program that there are no serious long-term health problems, and also to assist the World Health Organization in its attempt to find answers to medi cal questions surrounding exposure to dioxin.' The University of Cincinnati Study is the first of its kind, and the resuhts are scheduled for publication soon in a medicalAjrnal. The entire problem has been a continuing Vrfoject of interest in medical circTes for many years, and Monsanto resents the NOVA implication that the matter has been covered up. Ra ther, the Nitro experience is being used as a case study to assist health authorities throughout the world in assessing the health implications of cioxin exposure. In a slighting reference to the Mount Sinai Medical Center study, the program's host said, "In this case, Monsanto is cooperating..." In fact, the directors of the study from Mount Sinai earlier this year wrote to the Nitro plant manager: "We wish to thank you and the members of your staff for the welcome extended to members of the Mount Sinai research team during the plant tour on April 5th. We appreciate the thor oughness and excellent organization of the tour and most especially the time given to us." Monsanto particularly resents a statement by An thony Mazzochi, a union representative: "Industry's claim that they don't wish to hurt people is just a pious platitude." He said, "I suggest that the so phisticated (corporate) apparatus is there to dis guise, and to obfuscate and to conceal." And he said, "Science in service of people would be protection; but science in service of corporations can never protect, it can only conceal." These statements are untrue, irresponsible and in tentionally inflammatory. The chemical industry has long emphasized worker safety. In 1977, the industry's frequency rate for recordable injuries and illnesses was 60| of that for all U.S. industry. And Monsanto's record is less than half the average of the chemical industry. Monsanto achieved that safety record by recogni zing potential hazards and taking steps to safeguard our workers. During the past decade and longer, as our scientific knowledge evolved we have identified potential chronic hazards. As our knowledge has in creased, steps have been taken'to protect employees from chronic risks, just as they have been protected from acute risks. Industry scientists have developed most of the sen sitive and precese instruments now used in chemical testing. Much of the data about the effects of chemi cals on health and the en.vj ronment is be i ng; de ve 1 oped in laboratories. i-.'" '. 'Other portions of the NOVA program have been criti cized- as. i naccurate or misleading, and certainly as not presenting the best scientific knowledge available on troublesome issues. One such criticism, by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, is attached. . From National Institute of Health ' ." "Availability of a report on animal tests of Aroclor 125k for cancer-causing activity (carcinogeni city) was announced by HEW's National Cancer Insti-- ture. Aroclor, a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) used as a heat transfer agent, was given in feed to rats for 10^i to 105 weeks. According to a summary of the report, Aroclor 125k was not carcinogenic to the rats under the test conditions. The tests are part of the Institute's Carcinogenesis Testing Program. Copies of the report, Bioassay of Aroclor 125k for PCB-ARCH-EXT0375936 Possible Carcinogenicity, are avaU-gble from the Of* flee of Cancer Communications, Naf )al Cancer insti tute, 'Bethjesda, Maryland 2001A." ' ' * ... * . - Frt-ri'Counci 1 for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) - . i . The sc 1 ent i f icyh*4scredI tat ion of the EPA study on spontaneous aborv^/is means that EPA's evidence of an association between 2.A.5-T use and the frequency of spontaneous abortions was faulty, not that women in the Oregon area studied did not have spontaneous abortions. These women have a medical problem that ..The United States has a major problem with use and disposal of toxic chemicals. The Public Broadcasting System's October 2 Nova Program on this subject,tit led "A Plague on Our Children," missed an opportunity to educate the public about the real issues and alter cannot be denied. If there is indeed an excess of spontaneous abortions in their area due to some ex* ternal cause, however, their focus on 2,A,5*T may cause them to overlook other obvious- possibi1ities such as poisonous plants that grow there. natives. Disappointingly, the program turned out to be the kind of sensational, Superficial caricature we have come to expect from commercial television. This was the conclusion of five university and USDA scientists who evaluated the program for the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), an association of 26 food and agricultural science soci eties. , . , , . This commentary was developed by Donald G. Crosby, Professor of Environmental Toxicology at the Univer sity of California at Davis; Donald E. Davis, Pro fessor of Botany and Weed Science at Auburn Univer sity; George F. Fries, Research Scientist in the U.S! Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Degradation Laboratory at Beltsville, Maryland; Micheal Newton, Professor of Forest Science at Orgon State University; The lives of all people are dependent on chemicals made by nature. And in highly developed countries the was of life is supported by industrial chemicals in many ways people do not fully understand. What are the benefits, the risks, the costs, the trade-offs? Nova sensationalized the risks but ducked the real issue. A realistic evaluation of risks due to chemi and Gary D. Osweiler, Professor of Veterinary Toxi cology at the University of Missouri at Columbia. A more detailed analysis of the Nova program is in preparation. For a copy of this analysis and for a scientific background statement of 2,A,5_T, dioxin, and related matters, call or write CAST, 250 Memorial Union, Ames, Iowa 50011 (515/29^-2903) cals would have been useful, but Nova did not provide it. Risk involves two elements: toxicity and exposure. Nova took the alarmist approach by focusing on toxi city. . Human and animal bodies are composed of chemicals made in the body or ingested in the food. Some of these chemicals are hgihly toxic. Some produce birth defects or spontaneous abortions or cancer if expo sure is excessive. The body can handle these substances, In summary, I need help! if readers know of any cases of an.infant who has been breast feeding from a mother with a known exposure to PCB and if levels have been measured in the human milk, write, or better yet, call me me at the Iowa Poison Information Center num ber (Toll-free 1-800-362-2327). Write to me at Mark Thoman, MD, Editor, AACTion, 1426 Woodland Ave, DesMoines, Iowa 50309. and we can live comfortably with them, as long as they are present in only small amounts. CASE OF THE MONTH Nova's one-sided focus on toxicity was most obvious in the 2,4,5-T, dioxin issue. 2.A.5-T is a weed- and brush-killer that requires a large oral dose to pro duct' toxic effects. Dioxin is a highly toxic trace contaminant that occurs at an average concentration of 30 parts per billion in 2,A,5*T. For its coverage on this issue. Nova relied for the most part on acti Even with the hints and additions, we had just one winner in the discussion of the case of the month: a regular, Bernard Eisenga from the Western Michigan Poison Control Center in Grand Rapids. His fine letter below discusses the case. vist allegations, science out of context, and tour- guide commentary to lead the viewer to the conclusion Dr'. Thoman, " ' ' : that 2.A.5-T is a great human hazard. Overlooked in the process of dramatizing the hazard was much valid information that did not Support the thesis. This included the scientific descreditat ion of the study of spontaneous abortions in an Oregon area on which the Environmental Protection Agency re lied in suspending 2,A,5"T use on forests (this stu dy formed-the hasis for-part of Nova's program); The differential diagnosis for the two and one-half year-old female would indlude the following: 1. Reyes syndrome 2. Acute renal failure secondary to chronic salicylate intoxication 3- Acute viral hepatitis A. Salicylate intoxication complicated by fluid retention secondary to inappropiate secretion :of Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) 5- Chronic lead intoxication. interviews Nova conducted with knowledgable scientists who had studied hazards of 2,A,5"T use; a recent in cident in which careful medical follow-up disclosed no significant increase in spontaneous abortions and birth defects after many people were exposed to relatively high concentrations of dioxin in Seveso, Italy; published research showing no significant in crease in incidence of cleft palate among births in areas In'Arkansas where considerable 2.A.5-T was used; and the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator's scientific advisory panel on pesticides found no evidence that 2,A,5*T poses an immediate or substantial hazard to human health or the environment. (2) Clinically this patient exhibits symptomatology associated with an acute exacerbation of chronic sal icylate intoxication, i.e., tachycardia, irritability, hyperpyrexia, tachypnea, and vomiting. She also ex hibits a coagulation defect and hepatomegoly. These may also be seen following salicylate intoxication, although hepatotoxicity is rare. Sa1icy1 ate-induced hepatotoxicity is more frequently seen in patients who have systemic lupus erythematosus. Based on the history, symptomatology and outcome 1 feel this pa tient had salicylate intoxication complicated by flu id retention secondary to inappropiate secretion of ADH. The onset may have been caused by the child's inability to tolerate the dose regimen or possibly PCB-ARCH-EXT0375937