Document GzRGOqyNbD6j6jX1GRwv9jZY

LAKE OSWEGO, ORE REViEW 9 200 JAN l 1976 y* Environmental Damage Noted By Roger Martin I By Rep. Roger Martin A number of year* ego more damaging to the an* fected had vironment than the wide recovered. completely Rachel Carson's book, "Silent Spring" blew the whittle on a potential damage to the environment Becauee of her efforts, DDT was banned in this country. DOT had a detrimental effect on wildlife, especially fish and water fowl feeding on Hah. Recent national publicity indicates that the chemical , PCB may be far more dangerous to the environ* ment than DDT. On Decem spread contamination of DDT. PCBs do not break down in the environment and therefore, are a persistent pollutant. Traces sre now ap* pearing in the Columbia River. The level of PCBs in the Great Lakes and rivers in the east such es the Hudson, sre far greater than the Columbia, and present an im* mediate threat to wildlife. Research indicates that concentrations of PCBs effect It is my intention to in troduce this measure at the request of the Oregon Electric Club. a statewide organisation madt up of sup pliers, contractors, utility em ployees, and others involved with the electrical industry. I------ 1. This Industry recognises the 1 danger to the environment and to our fellow citisens 'presented by PCBs. | This legislation will ban prescribed by law. A disposalsite presently exists in the State of Idaho, which utilises an abandoned missile silo Sber 4, 1975, I requested that Legislative Counsel draft a re to ban the use of in Oregon. It ie my in n to introduce this fish life and wildlife, especially ocean feeding birds. The build*up in the systems of this wildlife is very similar to that of DDT. legislation either in the regular session, or et a special session, if one should be called in 107#. f wifi, alto, 19eR7xe7pporsoedducttoionthiosf water fowl chemical is seriously threatened. Either the shells of their eggs are too 'immediately the use of PCBs in the State of Oregon, except Ifor extending their use by one yeap, in alectrical capacitors. Dow Chemical Company has developed a possible sub* atitute for the PCBs used in these capacitors, which should be on the market site. Objections will undoub* tedly be voiced to the ban ning of PCBs. Admittedly, they have certain charac teristics which have been beneficial. However, it ie ob vious that thsir detrimental effects far outweigh the forward copiee of my proposed legislation to our congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., Tor ' possible introduction at the national level. The initials PCB stand for f Polychlorinated biphenyls, a ' chemical which hae bean ' produced in the United Steles since 1029. At one time PCBs . were widely used in the elec* 1 triesI industry as a coolant for transformers and capacitors; in a wide range of lubricants, waterproofing chemicals, and carbonless duplicating paper; and also thin to survive, or the onset i of the breeding time is delayed so that the young cannot survive the seasonal change. In addition, there Is a medical indication that con* centrations of PCBs in humans may lead to a wide range of harmful effects. In 1968 in Japan, over a thousand people suffered an epidemic of disfiguring skin disease, which was traced to a build-up of PCBs which had`contaminated rice oil they were using. Their symp toms included abdominal pains, disturbances in the within a short period of time. benefits snd s substitute Thie measure will also must be found. Just as require that capacitors with Oregon was t pioneer with PCBs may be used only if the "Bottle Bill" legislation they are properly disposed of let us again lead the nation ' In a manner which will be in eliminating this pollution ^ of our environment ._ as a carrier for pesticides. Evidence has developed in function of the fiver, eye in* )flamation, headaches snd the last several years to in* general discomfort. Three dicate thut PC8* may be years latar. none of those af HONS 0329 76