Document JN6VQwmwMa3Q6K7zKZ9EBM0JB

POSSIBLE PRESS QUERIES RESULTING FROM ANTICIPATED LAWSUIT BY SOUTHEAST FISHERIES ASSOCIATION, INC., AGAINST MONSANTO (PENSACOLA PLANT). Que stion 1: Has Monsanto's Pensacola plant been responsible for polluting Escambia Bay with PCB? ANSWER: In August, 1969, the plant was using an Industrial fluid which contained, as one ingredient, PCB. At that time, we discovered the fluid was leaking into our sewer system. We immediately corrected the leak and removed the PCB-containing fluid, replacing it with a fluid containing no PCB. Question How much fluid was lost? ANSWER: Very little -- at most, no more than a few gallons a day. -oCo- *i07 STLCOPCB4044977 Quast ion 2: Could this loss of PCB fluid have contributed to the reduction of commercial fishing in Escambia Bay? ANSWER: From what we know about the effect of PCB on fish, and the scientific reports from other laboratories - and in view of the large volume of water in the Escambia River and the Escambia Bay -- we do not see how this Loss could have caused widespread contamination resulting in the fish kills reported this year. -- oOo- 0502 -.Ot> STLCOPCB4044978 Question 3: Since the problem has been corrected, why is PCB still being found in the bay? ANSWER: We don't know. There may well be other- sources of PCB in the bay drainage area. Question How long will it stay there? ANSWER: We don't know. It would seem that it would gradually be swept out to sea, where it would become so diluted as to be undetectable. -0O0- STLCOPCB4044979 Question 4: Does PCB kill shrimp? ANSWER: We have no evidence to support the belief that there have been sufficiently high levels of PCB in Escambia Bay which would lead to depletion of the shrimp population there. -0O0- (NOTE TO THE INQUIRY REPLIER: At this point you may want to refer the reporter to Dr. Thomas Duke, director. Gulf Breeze laboratory). 0^02^ LO STLCOPCB4044980 Question 5: How much PCB would it take to kill a normal, adult commercial fish? ANSWER: A review of the scientific literature on the effect of PCB on this type of fish indicates these fish can survive in water containing very high concentrations. The amount varies with the specie. For the hardier species it could take 4,000-5,000 parts-per-million to kill the fish. This amount of PCB is so high that it would have to he emulsified in the water. There has been no fish kill reported anywhere in the world that has shown these high-level water concentrations. -0O0- STLCOPCB4044981 Question 6: Is PCB toxic? ANSWER: Since toxicity is relative, we can best answer this question by comparing PCB to many common materials found in the home. For example, PCB is less toxic than gasoline, paint thinner, lighter fluids and various cleaning compounds. The important thing is that PCB is not a household item. It is an industrial chemical carefully manufactured, carefully handled and carefully used as an ingredient in certain closed-system applications to prevent fires and protect human life . -0O0- 05 STLCOPCB4044982