Document MGJezaG9JKMGw2j2q8jrq3VXx

BY A. KARIM AHMED The accumulation continues ------ - A. KARIM AhMCO is i lilt! irn(iU lor in# Nilurai AfiOuren OtlfRM Courted in VprM City. 6 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB*) were Tint introduced into commercial use more tlian 45 years ago. and Tor a long time the widely used industrial chemicals were considered to be relatively non toxic. Their potential threat to the environment, however, was recog nized in 1966, when tile Swedish scientist, S. Jensen, observed the presence of the compounds in fislt and wildlife samples while analyzing for chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide residues.l>* Since that initial discovery. PCBs have been detected in numerous aquatic and animal species and have been found in high concentrations in indusiml waste discharges, river-bottom sediments, food packaging materials, and in foods such as poultry , lish. and dairy products. Detectable levels of the chemical substance have been found in marine life ranging in size from small (plankton and zooplankton)J,4`* to large species (tuna).* High levels of PCBs haw been found in fish-eaiing and predatory birds. demonstrating the process of concentration of the sub stance along the food chain from lower to higher animals.11 a process which unfortunately has become all loo well known in (he era of modem industrial and agricultural activity. Relatively large concentra tions of PCBs also have been discovered in tue eggs of wild birds.*'* ' * During the past ten years, PCB residues have been analyzed in wild life and fish samples in Holland. Germany, and tile Baltic Sea.'-1' Off tile coast of Scotland, PCB residues have been found in several marine species, the contamination presumably having arisen from sewage wastes dumped into the open sea,14 Nevertheless, despite global inci dence of the chemical in the environment, residues are generally found mostly in regions of the world where (here is intense industrial and urban activity. In the U.S.. PCBs in Increasing amounts have been delected in the eastern and western coasia) regions, in highly urbanized areas (for instance, in and around Hie ChevJ|eake Bay. San Francisco Bay. and Puget Sound), and in regions where industrial discharges are known to occur, such as Escambia Bay. Florida, and the Hudson River. * Tile environmental accumulation of rco residues continues despite altempts by both industry and the federal government to improve Hie situation. As will be explained, industry's countermeasures line been lift MONS 214455 limited, *nd gowrnment action has bran hesitant. In live U.S-, the impact ot re Us on the environment is best illustrated by ever increasing conlJlninlftOfi of sport end commercial fisheries in the Great takes region and elsewhere. According to data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, levels of i'CUt in lake iroui and C0I10 salmon from Lake Michigan showed a sharply increasing trend since 1972. By 197-1, Ilia values ranged from more titan 10 10 nearly 25 parts per million (ppm), well above (he present Food and Drug Administra tion's (iha's) maximum allowable concentration of S ppm for fisli and shellfish.11 In sharp contrast. Udt levels in the same speeies of fish showed a declining trend since Ip70, when DDT consumption in the U.S. was curtailed.1 * Not only are the eco logical consequences of continued he U contamination ominous, but the poten tial ceonomie implications arc serious, since the total annual value of sport fishint in Lake Michigan is as high as 146,5 million.1* In addition, the com mercial catch of fish it now worth about S2.S million each year.*0 The Michigan studies ire supported by studies made by the Wisconsin De partment of Nitursl Resources. Fish samples collected in J97* showed ex tensive contamination.11 Affected types included Chinook salmon. Coho salmon, brown trout, liter trout, lake trout, whilefish, and carp, Centrally, the residue levels ranged well above S ppm, with lake trout <up to 43.8 ppm) and carp (up (o 31.6 ppm) showing tha highest concentrttions. In the Upper Fox River, samples taken at one station by Wisconsin researchsrt in 1975 showed high concen trations of rets in white tuckers (32.7 ppm), carp (average 35.9 ppm), and northern pika (average t5.4 ppm). Samples from several treat of the Mis sissippi River analysed by the depart ment in 1973 showed similar residues of PCts in wslleyad pike, latgemouth bats, northern redhorte, and carp. An interagency task fores on PCRt, formed of federal and several' state agencies of Minnesota and Wisconsin, sampled fids in the Misaiasippi River during the early surnmei of 1975 and gain found similar levels of re it in several rub species.'1 Elsewhere, the Division of Fish ind Game of the Commonwealth of Massa chusetts has in tha past detected high peg levels in Fish in several riven snd sireams in the state.31 From other data collected by the agency, it is detr the 1 in 1972 there was extensive eonliminalion of a large variety of Fish species in nearly til tha rivers which wars sampled in the state, with mean InvItEnmgni, v*i. ||, ne, 2 STRUCTURE OF PCBS Polychlorinated biphenyls (veil) it gantrle term used (or number of synthetic organic compounds that possess Iht fol lowing chemical structure: et ci c> ci Cl CI Cl C1 e> * CMplH at am real art a nlilvra ot different chlorinated kipaanyi homoiogs [vary etoiely related chemical substances), Thui, different aca formulation! or products may contain muturn ot biphenyls which hava different percentages of lha many possible cMorinttad homoiogs, aaeh containing a fltffarant numpar ot chiorlna atoms par biphenyl moiacula. Monsanto Company, tha sola U.S. producer ot aedt. sails its product undar tha trade name Aroctor. This product is told under ditfaranl formulations1 Arocior 1268. 1262, 1260, 1254. 1248. 1242. 1232, 1221, 1016. and to on Tha last two digits in this biphenyl series denote percentage of chlo rine in tha mixture. Aroctor 1016 it an exception to this nomenclature, since it contains 41 percent chlorine and if. in fact, vary similar in competition to Arocior 1242. Trade names used by foreign manufacturers include: Phenodor and Pyrelene (Prodelac, F rarveei, Kannechlor and Santo lharm (Kanegafuchi Chemical Company and Miltibwshi-Monsanio, respectively. Japan), Clop hen (l. Q. Farbenlnoustrie A, C., Germany), Fenclor (Caflaro, Italy), and Sorot (U.S.S.R.). PCS residue levels ranging between 1.11 and 197.0 ppm. To date, however, the most contami nated fish in the U.S. have been found in the uppet retches of the -Hudson Raver, near and below two General Electric plants in the Fort Edward- Kudton Falls area in the upper Hudson Rivar more than 40 miles north of Albtny, The two plants manufacture electrical capacitors in which pegs are used as insulating fluids, tn 1974, mmpling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPa) showed yel low perch snd shiner minnows to con tain average pci residues of 17 snd 76 ppm, respectively, with one rock bass sampla containing 350 ppm.3* Ii ap peared that the two General Electric plants had been discharging approxi mately 30 pounds of pc as into the river each day; in recent months, this mount teems to have declined to less than 10 pounds per day. Fish ssmplis collected in 1975 by ihe New York Slsla Department of Environmental Conservation confirm ihe earlier find ings. The composite pcu averages in Fish caught near one plant show typical values well above 20 ppm, with one American eel sample yielding residue values of 403.4 ppm (concentration measured et Arocior 1016/I242).33 At Urge amounts of pelt were being discovered in the upper Hudson River, New York State Department officials also were finding high residues of pegs lit fish species of recrestional and commercial importance farther south in the Hudson River. " Striped bait caught near the Albany area showed total PCI residue values of between 11.06 and 69.76 ppm. Fish caught in Ihe lower reaches of the river had a relatively higher concentration of an okder Peg formulation (Arocior 1254), indicating long-range transport of Pens discharged by industrial activi ties in the past. Striped baas sampled near the West Point and Tappan Zee arts of the Hudson River (50 miles north of New York City snd several hundred miles south of Ihe Fori Edward-Hudson Falls eras where the Gen eral Electric plants are located) hid total PC b residues of from I 16 to 7.54 ppm. Similarly, a sample of American shad in the Poughkeepsie area showed PC t residue ItvtU of 9.0 ppm. ~ Disruption of the wiped bass com mercial fishing industry on ihe Hudson 7 MONS 216456 Rivet would have serious economic consequences, since (he value of (he annual commercial catch appears lo be jboin SI.-- million.1* 31 '* hi add' lion, the annual ukr ol siriprd hast by snorHuien exceeds >Ue animal commer cial caicb.3 N lurwiennore. ihe overall problem is venous in it* relation to re* ^eduction m stnptfd bjs*. The xinped bass is a migratory lish which has stock that oitermingte* in various loca tions such * the- Chesapeake Bay. (he Delaware River. .md ihe Hudson River regions. As result, la ii comaminalinn nuy affect a large segment of 1 tte enure North Atlantic stock of striped l>u$s. Bottom Buildup Of equal concern is the accumulation of K Us in fiver-bonoin scdimenu. j*c ti>. like most chlorinated Itydroor' boits. are highly insoluble m water and tend to settle and ilten be adsorbed on ult and bill* pjiinles on tin? buJtom1 Uju collected by Ihe U S. Geologi cal Survey ubt,>l on the Hudson River during tike years IS* 7 3 and 1^74 show ilie presence of (Mb in the water jnihn iltc bottom sediment* of Hie river/'' Values ranging between 0.3 and .VO parts per billion (ppb) vrus have been reported in water laid' pies collected M several stations on the Hudson River'. Hie sampling sites in etude locjtions near Poughkeepsie, WjicMurJ. (. hel*ei and Rhmcbeck. 1m coutrjM lo water samples, I'CH ctmccmr.iUoiis analysed from lite tiver- PCBs, like most chlorinated hydrocarbons, are highly insoluble in water and tpnd to settle and then be ad sorbed on silt and fine particles on the bottom. 0r bottom sediments showed considerably higher values charjccritlic ol the inioT ubk* nature of km*. The usus data are sunmuri^ed below 3' n u C OMicntrjiiuiiv Kt Hudson kivci Sediments. US(*S Due StJtion m. h m Sediments (pph) 7/74 Chelsea 7/74 Pouilltkecpiie 7/74 Waterford 7/74 Winelnook Hills 7/74 Clieltta Y/74 Poughkeepsie y/74 W,|crford B/7S Rojer's Islund, sou lit or Gknn Kills j,:oo I I.UOO 13.000 0I 1,800 3.600 640 18.000 More recvnlly. ihe KfA conduced water and sediment analyses loi'tvut in Ihe viomiy ol b'ord hdward, New 'lurk, near one of Ihe General IJecutc plains. Water camples collected directly south of the plant's waste-water dnr Charge pipes had rcu values of V' to 3.1 pph. Nearby *<dime*Hsl in contrast to the water, contained 540.0U0 to 2.480.000 ppb (540 lo 2,480 ppmI. with 6,600 ppb betng detected several miles downstream of the discharge pipes.14 These concentration* obvi ously are much larger than those at the more distant sties cheeked by nsi;S personnel, even though the latter conceittraiious are themsrlves excessive. One immediate practical problem is thjl the ijrgest concentration ol rciu is likely to exist in ihe deep navigation channel of |he Hudson, and dredging in iIlls chatmel will luHhrr disperse iJie material.1 *,J0 Toxic Effects of K Bs Based on the high lethality ol l*i Oslo muiinc and irestiwyter aqtialic species. Mte National Academy ot SueiuesNational Academy ol Engineering ( ouuuiticc made Hie billowing rityiu* mciulation 1 * "Aquatic life should be protected [iJtat is. sale Jtont toxtc cllechj where Hie maximum cnnu'itH.njon of toliil KU in mitihercd w.ucr does wn ex ceed 01>01 nncri'gr.im per bur |U.00i pt*Kj jt .niy time or ijI.k.- jnd Hie resi dues in Hu- gci'cul body Irsiucs ol any jiiiijiit orgjuiMtt do tun exceed 0.5 niicrogruiii |rr gr.irn |0 5 ppm|." These levels obviously jre exceeded m areas ol ihe Hudson River md else where. _ Ihe danger io ai|Hjju hie is a warn ing ol the danger fo human Me. In fact. Ihe lOKKily ol rt ut, io humjni has been cleaily and tragujlly demon- slruied. In iVhh. .t sever* form of skin disease was diagnosed m Japanese fami lies who consutm'd rice uil conUmi- luled writ) kjrK'chlui 4Q0 ii'i u wt(h 48 jJt'fcs'ni cldonne toinejii).31 J3 The disease, known as ihe "Yusho syfl' dmnie. is Ui.k jcteri/eil by swelling of the upper c>clids, visiul idipjinncni, acnedike tormaiions. and heightened pigmentation ol Ihe skin.31 ami a total ol 1.057 poisontng cases have been re corded to dj(e m Japan.11 Pnticni* sc it li litis disease ah>i have esinbited nwiirohrgicul disorders and have shown signs of hearing loss Blfwes born to several patienls had many of the symptoms ol the disease, indicating a placenul transport ol t't'bs, most leinses of (he victims were smaller Ilian the njiiutial average Another dis turbing feature of the disease was Ihe observation I hat most patients recov ered wry tlowly, which suggested that i'i us weie reunited m ihcir bodies over j very long period.41 ri its have been detected in human adiposv tissue Icon- newtive tissue m the body contairnni stored cellular lal) in such widespread ikciirrokv' iii;l over 40 percent of the U.V population contains one pari per nuMiott or more.** A number ol studies have coitdu lively shown Ihe etieu ol IV(Is on the leprodMctiou processes ol some birds and animals, in eluding mon keys.11 ^ it ,, impor- uiii to male tiut i\ |ix with lower chlorine content nu> have j greater ctlect tut reprodtKlion Uiaii luplieityls with InghiM chiisrine aniiuiit, even ilutngh the lonner \ubstjtices are now Iwmg snygeNfi'il j*i cui>tiiutec for the ialler. lit a recent review jriule on Ute toxicology ot iv us. Ki'iuir kutihrongh i>l Iltc ( cuter lor Uiwjce l onlroi ut Alljiil.i, (fi'orgia, staled:'1 "IJie results obtained trorn the re* production siuihes tn birds itjiitculjrly seem ti indicale Hi.n the lower vtitori- noted biphenyls alte^l i vemdui.tnin nnire than |h* higtu-i iliioiiruted bt- plienyK. and il is vci> iui|miuut iu dc- Iviiinuc wind he i the lowci cl'Uu maud JiqiltcnyK lhal have hcv'i Mig|:voied a* rct`l.KCinviit> for pi e^e w 11 > employed chlormatcd JhiUtcrtyN h.ne an cHct on HOMS 216457 M*(h t*?6 . -... rrproJuclton." Tht latent ft* toxicity tests In monkeys are particularly relevant to human health considerations. In en ex- tenuve strict of litti carried out by Jiinri Allen and hr* colleagues at the University of Wiicontin School of Med icine, pcbi in the diet o( rhesus mon key> caused iigmficanl effect I that mimicked both the tymptomi of known human toxicity and reproduc tion failurei in experimental animal*. When female rhciui monkeyi were given 75 ppm of Aroelor 1248 for a period of two monlltt. severe tymp tomi of fictal swelling end stun erup tion! were manifested. At tower die tary levelt (S.O ppm and 2.5 ppm) of the same lubitance, ttmtlir clinical tymploini wete ohaerved after few month!, more signtficanlly, lheie low kveli Df ecu had i marked effeel on reproduelinn. After three m(in|i with male monkeyi, only U S percent of the 5 ppm PC* dietary (roup and 37.S percent of the I S ppm group were pregnent at compared to 90 percant preininctet in a comparable control group.'* At (he uma time, offapnng were ilgnificanlly imaller In aixe: their health wai further threatened aince they continued to ingget high pci levels from tht nurted milk of their mother!.*0 One notable coniiderttion related to ihe experiment! in monkeyt * that the preicnt fda lokrinct limn of 5 ppm*' for PCh reitdue in firth and the Ilfnil it bated on the itsump- tion that toxic tffeclt occur at levels much.higher than it actually tht caw. On this but!, then, the fda tolerance limn h too high. Alio, of aeriout concern it a recant etudy' conducted by a group of re search invettigatort at th Canter for Diaeate Control in Atlanra, the bpa, the National Canctr Inatltute, and the John! Hookirt Univertrty School of Medicine. They obiarvad that whan experimental female rilt were fed a dial containing 100 ppm of PC* (Arodor 1260) for about 21 montha, 26 of 114 of the experimental animala examintd hid malignant Over turwoea^Htpatocellular carcinoma), whera*e only I of 173 control inimalt halt the (liswu. At the same time, 146 of tht expttv mental md none of I be control ini* malt had tumorous lesions {neo-pUslic nodules) in ihe liver. Other effects of pcbi thst have been reported in fhe icientific litera ture include: (1) increased product ion of certain entymei in the livers of hu man being! snd laboratory rail, (2) in duction of liver porphyria in several animal ipecitt, (3) interference with ihe immune defense mechanisms in rabbits, (4) neurological disorder! in rats. (S)incrrised ecu residue tn fatty tnmenment vor It, We. I tissue!, strum, and milk, and (6) toxic effects In chick embryo*.* ' ** There lias been some concern that reported I'Cli effect! nuy be attributed in pan to Ihe presence of chlorinated dlbemofurans as a conleminani in pi B mixtures.'1 Chlorinated dihcnxolurans have been ihown to he acutely embryotoxic and have been delected in sev eral l`CB pteparslion* iC'lophen A 60, Phenoctor DP-6, Aroclors 1748. 1754, 1260).*' Rcceni reports by M. Kurataune and his associate! have indicated that Ihe "'Yusho" palienn apparently had been exposed to reus in rice ofi contaminated with chlonnaled dlbentofufans and ihowed detectable level* of thii compound in (heir body tis sue.** However, il was not determined from Urn study whether the contami nation occuried during manufacture of the rcis or during Ihe uie of Ihe rc mixture at a heal exchange lluid in tht rice oil plent, since high temperatures may have led to its formation through tht hydroxylaiion and oxygen ring bridging of chlorinated biphenyl mole cules. Al present, tht possible link of PCI toxicity to the presence of chlori nated dibcniofuran contaminant! re mains highly spcculsiive. as then ippeart to be no direct experiments! evidence ilui dlbenxofurtn derivatives have .long-term chronic effects similar lo those which have been amply demonttratad with pcbs.11 '** Control of rets The attack on PCO contamination has taken two forms, one a voluntary re sponse by manufacturers of the tubaune* snd tht other a reiponee by var ious government bodies, both re sponses hsve been madequitr, si will be shown in whit follows. In 1971, over 106 million pounds of pegs was produced in the industrial countries of ths world, with s third of this, nearly 40 million pounds, being manufactured m the U.S* * During the late 1950s and into the 1960s, U.S. domestic salrt of PC'it increased nearly threefold, reaching a peak of spproximniaty 72 million pounds in 1970.*' Prior to 1970, about 60 percant of PC* material sold domettictily in the U.S, wit ustd for closed gltctrieil lyvUm such as Cipicuon and trant* formers. Another 25 percent was ustd at plasticisers and hi the production of carbonless duplicating piper.** In Sep tember 1970, Monsanto Company, the sole manufacturer of Pets in the U.5., restricted it! tak of reus because of environmental contamination by the chenucah. This restriction consisted of limiting tales lo those malarial! ear marked for closed electrical system!. Thereafter, U.S. consumption was re duced considerably. It is important lo nose, however, ilui thru reductions occurred mainly tn the use of t-f us ts plasticisers and ai hyJrauiit and lubri cating fluids, since the bulk of pcbi (60 percent), as mentioned a burg, had bern used in electrical systems. This chemical substance n still being used almost exclusively as the insulsting fluid for Urge, high-voltage capacitors (as well as for certain small ones) and for electrical transformers IK addition, the iPA estimates' that approximately one-half aitlUoh pounds of ec Is it being imported into this country each year*0 and presumably I* being used in products other than electrical equip ment. - Ai to government response to the PC* problem, a federal Interdepan. mental Teak Force was convened tn 1972. The group concluded that be came of the highly persistent nature of pels and their bioaccumulation in the food chain, these chemical compounds posed a serious threat to human health. The group recommtndad re striction of the use of PCBi to dosed skciricel lyilcms such as electrical transformers and capacitors** How ever, sine* Monsanto Company actually had already begun restricting domestic Sites in this fashion, ii a not clear whether the leak force's recommenda tions, issued a year and a half attar Monanlo's action, had any influence on tht company's decision (although this hat recently been suggested by a federal official)." In July 1973, the FOa established PC* tolerance limitations in a variety of food products, as follows:*' FI)A Tokrinces for PCts tn Food and Food Packaging (ppm) Ml** Dairy products* Poultry* Fish and shellfish** Eggs Infant and junior food Compkla and finished animal feed Animal feed components Paper food-packaging material 2.5 2.5 5.0 5.0 0.5 0.2 0.2 2.0 10.0 *On fai basil **Cdibn portion Toxicity dal* obtained during the ptlt year showing severe reproductive failure with low concentrations of PCBs in primates (5.0 and 7.5 ppm) snd the recent demunslration of car cinogenicity with rits***1 indicate the need to substantially revue the preetnt pda tolerance linntalioni of PCBs in foods. Allhoilgh the prescnl tolerance standards arc deficient, ihe I da hat in recent months taken lei sure action beacd on these standards 9 HONS 216458 against several fisli shipments ear marked for commercial markets in Lake Michigan, since PCD concentralions in the fish exceeded the present 5 ppm guideline.* 1 Similarly, tile ill A M iaed ;i shipment of carp this summer m Lake Pepin on the Miiiinippi ILver.*1 In view of a recent legal de,nion that apparently allows the H>A iu define pesilcide residues in foods is an indirect food addiiive, the IDA is expected to enforce Us guidelines more ioicefally in the future, i da officiiii in the Creai Lakes region have warned ihul shjpinenl of chubs. Coho salmon, and lake trout may be disallowed in uilerstate commerce, since the fills continue to coniain high residue levels of plus.11 Ii is apparent that with l more thorough monitoring and lurveillance program, many species of fish in the Creai Lakes region and in aeverat rivers in the East Coast area wilt be essentially unavailable for human con sumption for many years. One of the grrit ironies of the pres ent situation is that more than three years ato the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Mv re a) directed the fed eral government (specifically the F.PA) to lake swift action to raduce the dis charge of I'Ctts and other toxic water pollutants lo safe levels. The fad that today there is no meaningful national program to regulate I'CB discharges is a result of (he federal government's fail* urs to carry out the act at written. The congressional authors of lha mv ye A believed that (he "htiardl posed by toxic substances" made their effective regulation "especially ur gent, "*I Accordingly, they establialied in the act a ''national policy that the discharge of loxtc pollutants in toxic amounts be prohibited"*' and added io (he aci a far-reaching special pro vision. Section 307(a), to enaure that this goal was fully im piemenltd. If the section's mandatory deadlines had been mei. toxic pollutant effluent standards covering plus and other toxic poOuturns would have been promulgated by the m>a roughly two years ago and complied with by dischargers about one ytat ago. Vei, to date, the EPA has faded io promulgate a single stan dard under Ibis provision. Despite short comings in federal en forcement, severul slates have taken ad ministrative and legislative initiatives to control ihe discharge of pubs into lakes and rivers. Earlier this year, the Michigan Natural Resources Commis sion endorsed the recommendalion of the Lake Michigan Toxic Substance* Commit ice, calling for a ban on PCB imports and their use sis [he U S. and lor a rapid replacement of Plbi in elec l rice I capaciton and Iraniformeri.*1 At (lie same lime, a I'dl has io been introduced in the stale legislature to place strict coniroi on the use and sale of plus in Michigan.*1 In Wisconsin, the Division of Health of the State Department of Njiural Resources hai issued warnings on con sumption of large lake Iroul and salmon from Lake Michigan end the upper Mississippi River. In August 1975, the department held a hearing with a view to developing a strategy io control the sale and distribution of plus wiihin the state.*1 In Minneiota, an Interagency Taak Force was estab lished. principally lo broaden the mon itoring of PLUS in fish in several rivers and streams in the state.*3 In terms ol adminiitmlve remedies, the strongest action was taken this year in New York state, after it was discovered that the two General Eketrie plants on the Hudson River ap- U-l* tmawnlt ' SCSI havt Man Uuaa In nil m In* Hasten rtiver. tiMaiady in thm *1 nmilltlMl in tinmnlil |lul. peartil to be ilw maror dischargers of Pe ns in upper regions of ihc river. On September '}, 1775, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an abatement order requiring the General Electric plants to achieve zero discharge of i-lbs by September 30. 1976. Admini strative-hearings were begun on Octo ber 6, 1971. * At the same time. Ogden Reid, commissioner of the de partment, publicly warned consumers against eating striped bast from the Hudson River .and salmon caught in Lake Ontario " On (he international from, the Orpniution for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) a few years ago recommended (hat its member countries which are involved in re* production (including the U S., West Germany, France, the Unued King dom, Japan. Italy, and Spain) restrict the commercial use of l*Cas to doted systems.11 Only Japan hat taker fur- i WOWS 216459 ihrf strict measures to completely eliminate the use ol hCUs in all com mercial applications, including capaeilors imi transfoitners. Japan also pro hitiits tlte import and export ol the compound, and, since September 1^7^, there has been i virtual diminution of almost att applications of I'CDt in that country.10 Most recently, following the Na tional Conference of i'c iis which was held in Chica.iur on November 19 to 21, 1975. the Ei'a on December 22, 1975, announced a I'j.-reaehing lejernl policy of "totally elimiuating the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (i-c in) as rapidly as possible" in the U.S.0*'** In a more specific action, the t:t*A has ordered lhe two General Electric plants on the Hudson River to achieve zero discharge by June 1977,** li is dear from these actions that tlie federal ovrnmcni has recognised the gravity or the t'L'b issue and at last has taken definitive steps to address the prublcm- 77rr title of this article as original!)' submitted was "A Renew of Federal and Stole Coi'ertimrnl Rotes frr Con trolling Impacts of rCBS on the Envi ronment. " Tire Publisher mud Editors of Environment arc responsible for rtir published titles end subtitles, selection of photographs and lead-in excerpts, photo captions, end preparation of most graphs and illustrations which appear in Environment articles. NOTES 1. JtitHn, lM "A Now Chimicii Hatard." N#w MyntHt, 32*12, 1*6*. I, (WiauMt, O., "Paitibi# tn|rl#r#nc# Oy CMorinatad Biofitnyii," Jour. Ann. Ahal. Cham.. 50:10**. 1*67. 5. Alttordutn, A.w., 01 *1.. "PCB Riumh (ft Atlantic Zdepianicipn." loO. tavir, Con* um. TtKlIil,, I 34S, 1*72. d.Giam, C.6., ti 6i.i '"Chiormoitd HyOrocan OOns in ^iiflMon from i*a ouit of M#m<o and Noilhtrn Cifib^tm/1 lull. Ifivtr. Cod* tam, T**lal., *i*76. 1971. I. wtn, O.M., on* *.F, Addrton. "PCB Kdiiuii >n piinut^n from irm dun of Si. LtwrtACi:1 N#1r#, 24*51*. 1*73. 6. 2U0. V., 6nd P.M.K. Choi, **ACB JrtO ott**r mau)irtfi Ht>Q*td6lM in to* cnvronmani." Pith. 6H. ftp, pf Can* *da Tithmtii Atoort 272. 1*71.*. 1. 7. j*ni*n, 5,. i al.. "GOT and PC6 m Marin# Amman from SwaBitn walon," Naivrt, 226:24 7, > ***. *. A<tab<ou#h% *.w . al *1., HPolymorln*tao liphfflyil ^ IM fiiPPH ECMyifim," Nsiur#, 120:10*1. L**l 9. N.W, Motii. #no O-J, Afriitf, 'l90*y(hinn*tM Bipftsnylt <is WU# 0ir*| Ln rium *n* tn*u Avian Tamely," tnvlf. P*u., j ,j. |*70. 10. J.h,, '*MC* m Mimditi an* I'dl Id IH# NldHan9t.'k PC* Canfarantt II. 6. Lwnatteom, #S., N|IIOfl4l twa. nvir, PtOI. M. 7u. 4C. 1 972, p. 33. Ji. Wftw Gustily Crituli. RMfi ol in# CPWfUHt on WIB* GuStily CnltH*, Ella. Siudtat 0*., NAS-NAC, Wann*fon. DC.. >*7? 12. Gralenus. V.A., A. Oeyicnuf. an* A.j, Cmtrtck, "iniattftida*. Pofycniormaitd 0J- Ohanytl,. and MsrCury in wtio Cormorants, Pabcant, Thai* ##, Pood. ano Environmant/' Bull. Envtr. Cantam. Tamcpr, *:321, 1*73. 13. Ho*rts#ei, J.H.. M C. TanNoavSf. trttf A h. OtVOi. "Cmofinnao Biphfnyis m Fiin, Mutton, and 0i>oi riom m* Aivs nimt and Ida NathaMsno* Cosilii A*a.'k Nature. 221:1126. 196*. 14. Maiden. A.v., "Source of Ppivcniori- n#l* B'One'ty* Conijmmjiioii in In Marine Environment," N!urt. 22* 1220. l*?0. 15. Maryland Otpi n*i net. ai*a w#shn*. npuM C'ec, c. Chaster p.ir iiwajp, An< niOOHt. Mo., Nov. 1*72. 10. StaMin*. D.L., an* F.l. Mpycr. "Toa'C*- i< #1 01 to Fun ana Envir#nmnUI P#tiow#." Intw. M*ln NMnil,. 1.139, 1*72. 17. OuM, T.w., j,f L#wt, and A.J. Wilton. Jr., "A pQiychlo#inj|pd 0i*nenyi fArocior 123*1 'n in# w*i#r. Itoiffltnt. and Bioi# Ol Escambia b*v. 6'0tida." 0uN. Cnvar. C#n* lam. Tdiic#!.. 5 171. 1*70 13- H#tt#, j,l., Cdtasftanls Jn Or*#l L*#M Flth, Michiyan Daoi. Nat. At. 3t#ri dopori, Jun# 1*73. 1#. Micnsgan Dv#l. Nal- Rfli., M4#nr#an Qrilt UHd Trpvl and 3alm#n nphtry, 1***91971, ftn#ii#i Mf/nl. A**ert Nq. S. June 1*73. 24, Hati#s J.L., #nd N. Foplt, Fafttry Olv., Ml#ni*an D9l- Nat. R#t.| prrwai# (ornniimcanon. 21. Odfurtv. P,. #no v. Du1*f. CNrinat#d Hypraurptn BM*u#t fn Pith ivo*n fwui#a Watm of wtpcodian, Witeontm Oot. Nal. A#t., Bur. Pith and W*di'r# M*mi, A#*ori No, 7*. MaOlPOn, Wi.. July 1*73. 22. tnt#ffa*#ney Tatd Fore# on PC0I. Praiim^ lAiry hvpprr on Ida NlyePlirinattp 01* Ohanylt In Mttt>itl*o< Alwr and baft# damn, Minn. Poll. C#m. A#., 31. Baui, Minn.. AM*. 1*73.' 23. P#r#rme. P.J., Pfo*r##t Ktaart. Maitacno* salts NHKIiv Mo*M|#rifi* Mpifli, A*rU 1. *72 t# M#r<n 31, t*73. Ov. Fttn#ii#t#n* Gam#. Comm#nwafus pi Mast . Boston, Man.. 1*73 24. NaMiif, r,j., ana n. o#v<i. invati*ati** a* Polyahl#afna|#a Bphtnyli in in# Hyoton ftlvon Hudson Pafii-Fari lw#r* Araa, EPA, Ra*ton M ftaoari, 1*74. 23a Bur. Invlr. Prl,, Ov, Fi*n and WOPMU, N#w Tom Oa*l. Cnvsr. Comt'v., Monilarin* 4 PCBt tn Fish Tanan tram tna HiiIms Alvar, AlOiPy, N.V., CKI. 1*73. 2*. National Marsn# Fitnanat Sarv., U.3. Oa*t. f Conwntrc#, Fltdarltt tUlhlla a# IP# unHaa Biaiat, 1*ti t>. Oowai, D.Q., 1*70 Soil`Pfii#r Ad*Hn* Samv. NCAA. Naian Marma Pimarat 3#nra, Ui*. Oaot. of Commote#, Cwriani Fipdasv tlaiUiiet No. *200, 1*73. *#. Conaoiipaiad Cdison Co. ol nw voih, in#,. Pinal IrmranmpalPl impact 3tatm#ni. Omiion *4 Indian Pomf Nucroar Gan#r> tln* Btoliong Pa*. 1*73. 00, Tarn, John, U.*. QsoiOpcaf lurvOy, Appny, N.V., privaia commwnicaiton. 30. Munson, Tnomat, waitn*nowM Ocoan Aatoorcd Lab,, Annapolis. Md., orivait eom. mufticatton. Also, otairm. draft Uooar Chatspaana Bay siwdy. 31. Klm*rOw*n, A.D., "Th# TpsKfty Of PplytMormaii# Polycyclic Contopwnos an* Atiaiad Cnamiead.'1 CAC Crllfaai Aayiaws in TdsladJ., Mil. 1*74, p, 44*. 32. Kwraltuhv. M., al ai-, *'An Eodamfod#(> c#i Study on 'Vutno' or Ch<oio0ibn#nyit POAonfni," FohtPOMi A*ip M#*., *Oi313, mi, 33. KuraliuffS, M.. al ai., * Eo<d*ri*a4o#t<#i 3u*y *1 vutno, a Po6onm* Caus#a oy insiiiBff ol Aicb Oil Coni*m<n*aa with a CommttciBi Oran* of Poiycn*Ofnai#a *donyii,`k | naif. H#aflh P#rp#6t,, Adi. 1*72. 34. ones, H.A., an a.l, Wvtcn, `'Occurlane# Of pc01 m HymsfH," Cnair. raasltn P#MOO#t., Apr. 1*72. invironm#ni, vor, 11, No. 2 )*. PtaionOw. N.S.. and L h niniiti. p,0*p LPry Etlactt ol Poivcnrormaltd 0pn#nyit on M*nu," Canadian Joar. Cam#, Mad., 37.391. ISJJ- , 3*. DaMfv#n. A-0.. A,L. L'ndar. ana C w Canton. ''PnlyelilOMnaia* 0<onany*' th#s< iriKli on Pannaa <Mc*miui," (nwi. H*anrt PoftBtct., 1:M. 10 72 37. Kaonn#ar. M L.. O.E. Fancha*. *no J C, Caipnorp, "TotnCoiopic 3iud<#l yin Ppiy- cnrormaiad BionanyM." Taatcot. IN Ap#i. Pharmacol., 19:402. 1*71 3*. Allan, J A.. L.A. cartltnt. a*d O.A. Bartolli, "Pafadu** Ellactt or Snori-tarm lowL*#l Eapotwra or NOnhomtn Pnnotrt to NiytMDfinilH Bionaoyiu'- Tqaicai. and ***! Bnarmacdi^ 30:440, 1*74. 39v AUan, J.A., "PsibOihs ol in# Nonnumi Prrmot# 10 PoiycMotinaiad BfUiftyi C*oolufi.'1 F*dar*lian Amiilwpi. 34.J67S, 1*73. 40. Allan, J.A., A#*, ^nmata Aat, Cfr.. unv. at wvt. Mo*. Sen., Mibim, wh., oiivais communictllon. . 41. Pd*0f#t PsfbtP, 3*112*1:140*6. July 6, 1*73. 42. Kimorou**, A.D., #i-> 'Unoudion or Livat Tumors m 3n#rman &|iam simni 04ft py PwyeM9Mn#i*d 0onny< Atucior 1200," prstrini Of Hudy obiain#d from A.D. K]m*ou*h, Cir- lo# Dnaasa conii., AHanta. Go. 43. idtardaoartm#nia> Tas# Fore# on PCBt, PlIyiMthNlil Btpn#nyli and itis EnvironPwil. Waihmfion. O.C.. May 1*72. a*. Allan, J.A , and O h. Nproacc. "Poly chlorinated Bipnany* ano Tsrphtnvi-inducia Gatirlc Mucotai HyolfMiifi in Primaiat," Baianaa, I7# 4*a, M73 4*. Bowas, G.w.. al ai., "idtniii'eaUon of CMfflnilsP GiPvn/pfuram i>h ami,cin Poiycniormaiao Bpn#nyf," hilurs, 236:303, 1*73. 4*. Kurslaun#, M.. v. Matuoa. and J N.S, yams. "3oma o* in A##anl Ftndinas ConC#rnln* Vutno." paoar pri. at Nal. Cam. on PoiyCMor. B*onanyH. cnc**o, H., Nov. 19-21, It 73. 47, Enyrronmoni OrpctNin, Dr*, tor Ccon. Cto*. and Oaa>.. "Po'vc htoMnai## *< pnonyiti TKair uh ano Control," Paris. Nov. 1*73. 4*. *'Poiyen!orm*i#o Bion#nyis - Environrti#nla< impact,'' Rintw py Pan*l On Hit- ordowl Troc# 3uOSI#ncas, tnvtr. A#t., 3 24*. 1972. a*. Train, AutiaM apmm., Envir. Prot A*., in Nckpouna wriiion t#t#m#nl pr ai Praia Coniaranc# on PCBI, watnmfton, D.C.. G#c. 22. 1*75, SO. Scnw#Jt**T, G ., dir., ON- of Tutc *u ti#ncai, Ev. Prai. A*n n Hiiamanu maoa at h#rln* on PCBt A#id by wit Oddi. N#t. Aat.. Madison. Wn. Aup. 2*. 1*76. 31. hoim, J.L, "Summary of Aa*uiaiory Cflarit of in# Giat Lauat R#*ion Toward th# Knvlrnm#niai Canlroi or PCBt 1#oiyMorin#t#d Brpnanyit),'* $po#cn or##. Jo Go*trn#r't Grtal Laaai A#*ionai mtid>iclpfrnary P#tffcrd# Councri, Cnna*o* Hi.. *#04. )l, 1073. 32. "'MortOai#, hhh Cani#r PC Fray," MlnnosooNt TrJOwna, Au|. 26, i*rt, # 10. 33. *#n#i# A#ooft> No. *2'4l4, *2nd Conplli, 111 *#lon. 1*71, o. 61. 64.1111# 33 unHd Siaiai Coda. 34251 [FWPCA S10I |*l(3l, 3307 dM4|) 55. N#v Vprir Slat# D#Ot ol fnvi* Cant., cemaiinti itivsd sa*nti Gan#tii LikI'k Co.. Flit Np. 2*33, Saoi. 23. 1*73. 36. '`Stila Say! 6om# sioood Isii an# Salmon Pot# a Tom P*f4,a> N#w v#/t Timti. Auf. , llfl, I. 1. #7. oi|, to#- (con c*o*. ana D*a<., Da emon or int cou:hi on #t#iaction *i ina IrlrtAMpri by Cpnlroi *4 Pofyaniaimaiao dsNay'i, lsaiss rsF 13. 177J. 52. "Train Announce* Plan 10 Control PC01," Envir. Prot. Ao., arm raicaia. wathnytan, D C., Dot. 22, 1*7*. 3*. Fry#, Aicnpr*. i#*M llplf. Env, Prpt. A*., A#*ion m4 N#w Vovh| N.V.a private commufiKiiion, 11 NONS 216460