Document KJNwEjy2L6O8zJNN686qxVknr

lUtnrttsiioll MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. D. 240,275 SUN. 674,302 JUK\77b ^ warning about PCBs / PfllyrMorinafgH hmhwnvtg--nr PCBs for short-- government, has urged the federal Environmental are a group of chemical compounds used in many Protection Agency (EPA) to limit PCBs to "esaen- industrial processes as a hydraulic fluid, heat* tial uses." The committee chairman. Donald transfer fluid or electrical insulator. PCBs also are Mount, chief of the National Water Quality Con- used in the manufacture of some hand soaps. Re- trol Laboratory at Duluth, says that PCB levels in search has shown that PCBs can cause birth de- Lake Michigan trout range up to 40 parts per mil- fecti ot prevent reproduction in birds, fish and lion or more, and "there are no signs ft's getting mammals, and may be cancer-causing. The lead- any better." PCBs also have been found in fish Ing PCB researcher, Dr. Junes Alien of the Univer- taken from Lake Superior, sity of Wisconsin, fears that PCBs might have aim- liar affect* on humans. Pinpointing the source of PCB pollution ha, been a problem. "There apparently aren't any major indt- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has vidusl sources that can be identified and elimi- set a federal safety limit for human consumption nated," Mount says. "Just a lot of little sources." of PCBs at five parts per million, dnd yet little was ,, That is why, he says, the interstate committee has done until recently about restricting the interstate recommended that PCBs be restricted to essential shipping and sale of food found to contain more uses. . than the federal limit. In 1971, for example, the ; , .FDA found 40 parts pej million in carp being' The industries using PCBs say that non-toxic sub ' shipped from Minnesota's Lake Pepin. The FDA, stitutes would be hard to find. But if PCBs are as 1 however, did not move to stop the interstate ship- dangerous as they now appear to be, their use ; ping and sale of lake Pepin carp until last month, should be severely restricted. We hope the federal ; claiming that until a court ruling in February It EPA accepts the interstate committee's recom- \ had not been clearthat the agency had Jurisdiction mendation. "The really alarming thing about i Over chemicals such as PCBs which are not inten- PCBs," warns researcher Allen, "is that they may '| ttilonnmaljlliyr added ,tno ffnonoJdv ., , ntwoitt aaffffeacrtt nuss ttnoHdaoyv norr ttnommnorrrrnouwi. ITtf mmaivyhbae IlDltfolar 20 years before we really see effects on humans." , Now an interatate committee, representing Wls- It would be wise to act now. I consin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and the U.S. HONS 031153