Document MGvpXoo0MD45n7dGgd4E09RgL

y Monsanto Backgrounder | POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB*) MONSANTO COMPANYfST. LOWS, MO. Production History June 1, 1983 Moneanto Company became a manufacturer of polychlorinated blphenyla or PCBa In 1935 when It acquired Swann Chemical Company and lta product line*. PCBa are conpounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine atoms. They are chemically Inert, stable and fire resistant. These properties made them invaluable for their principal use -- as cooling and Insulating fluids In heavyduty electrical equipment, including capacitors and transformers. For more than AO years, the use of PCB electrical fluida was required In amst high-rise buildings, schools, hospitals and industrial operations where the risks of fires or explosions were ujor concerns. In 1970, following confirmation that PCBs were present In the environment, Monsanto voluntarily began to phase out sales of PCB products for "open applications" that could lead to uncontrollable environmental release. These uses, which represented about 65 percent of the company's PCB sales. Included heat-transfer fluids, hydraulic fluids, plasticisers and other miscellaneous applications. HONS 019311 2 By 1972, Monsanto was Uniting PCB sales to selected customers solely for use in "totally encased" electrlcel equipnent. This action was endorsed by a federal task force which recoonended that Monsanto continue production for these uses until effective substitute products could be developed. This view was again reinforced in 197S by the then administrator of the U.S. EPA, who cautioned that massive power disruptions would occur if Monsanto were to cease production before suitable replacement fluids became evailable. In October of 1976, following Indications from the electrical Industry that replacement products would soon be in hand, Monsanto announced that it would voluntarily cease PCB production in its entirety and exit the business by October 31, 1977. In fact, Monsanto was completely out of the PCB business prior to October 1, 1977. It is Important to note the following: 1) Monsanto's decision to withdraw from the PCB business was based on concerns about environmental persistence rather than health effectst 2) In switching over to substitute products, the electrical lnduetry was forced to eccept lower fire resistance, and 3) PCBs continue to be manufactured today by other flrme in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and eastern European countries for use in many areas of the world. HONS 019312 -3- Health Effects PCBs have been widely end mistakenly regarded aa among Che moec toxic compounds known. They frequently have been Incorrectly labeled as "deadly toxins" and "cancercausing agents." The weight of scientific evidence, however. Including many health effects studies done In the last few years. Indicates that PCBs are neither extremely toxic nor carcinogenic. For example, a 1982 review of current scientific literature on PCB health effects by Independent consultants (Drill, Prices, at al, Arlington, Va.) and submitted to the EPA notedi "At human exposure levels as high as those previously encountered in occupational settings, PCBs can cause chloracne and Increases in the levels of one or more liver enzysies. Neither effect represents a serious or llfethreatenlng health problem. From present evidence, no firm associations can be made between PCB exposure and any other huswn health effecta, aven after long-term occupational exposures." 81sillarly, an April 1982 review of PCB epidemiologic studies by Monsanto Company's Dr. William R. Caffey concludedi "All studies agreed that there was no relationship between reported illnesses and symptoms and PCB exposure." HONS 019313 -4- Recent Human Exposure Studies Since 1976 when PCBs were tingled ouc for regulation in the Toxic Subttancet Control Act, about two dosen human exposure atudiea have been publiahed. Thete studies show no relationship between any specific type of cancer and PCBs, nor any Increase in overall cancer mortality as a result of PCB exposure. Heither do they show a connection between PCBs and other serious illnesses or death. The studies Include data on large numbers of industrial workers who, over many years, were occupationally exposed to PCBs at significantly higher levels than are presently allowed in the workplace or usually found in the environment. For example, one study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Involved more than 2,500 electrical equipment manufacturing workers, more than half of whom were exposed to PCBs on the job in excess of 20 years (some for up to 40 years). A Novesfcer 1981 review of toxicity studies done by the consulting firm, Ecology and Environment, Inc., and submitted to the U.S. EPA, stated) "There is no evidence of an excess in total mortality or in mortality due to cancer, cardiovascular disease, or nervous system disease associated with occupational exposura to PCBs. PCBs have not been linked to any human cancer, and studies to date indicate it is highly unlikely that future studies will establish such s link. Therefore, it appears that PCBs are not a remarkable toxicant, but a chemical which requires high doses to produce harmful effects." HONS 019314 -5- Other Health-Effects Research 1. The National Cancer Inatitute concluded from 1978 lifetime rat feeding atudy that PCBa were "not carcinogenic..under the teat condltlona." Three almllar rat atudlee sponsored by Monsanto found that PCBs were not cancer agents. To date, only one animal feeding study -- using rats and done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) In 197S (Kimbrough et al) -- concluded that PCBs caused liver cancer. A subsequent review of both the Monsanto and CDC tests by an Independent research Institute found that none of the tests demonstrated cancer-causing effects. 2. Based on acute, subchronic and chronic studies of PCB effects In test animals, It can be stated that PCBs have a low order of acute toxicity similar to that of mineral oil or motor oil. PCBs would not even be considered poisonous using the medical or statutory definition, l.e., 50 milograms per kilogram of body weight. HONS 019315 -6- Yuaho Incident During 1968 In Yuaho, Japan, about 1,000 people became ill after eating cooking oil contanlnated with up to 3,000 ppm of a Japaneae-manufactured PCB (Kanechlor 600). Symptoma Included akin dlacoloratlon, acne-like condltlona, eye dlachargea, and central nervoua ayatem lrregularltiea. Sclentlata now generally agree that thla incident waa not cauaed by PCBa per ae but rather by toxic lnpurltlea later Identified to have been preaent In the Japaneae-made PCBa. Environmental Effecta Recent data Indicate that environmental levela of PCBa are declining. A May, 1983 report from the U.S. EPA found a "aharp decline'' in the level of PCBa In the general public. The percentage of Americana with more than three ppm of PCBa in fat tlaaue dropped from eight percent to one percent between 1977 and 1981. (EPA aald uae of the three ppm level waa "arbitrary" and not aaaociated with aome health-effecta level.) The agency attributed the decline of PCBa in fat-tlaaue to decreaalng levela of PCBa in the environment. Other data ahow that PCB levela In flah from three different geographical regiona -- the Great Lakea, New York State, and Alabama/Georgla -- ranged from one to five ppm In 1980-81 aa compared to levela of 60 ppm in 1973 and 18 ppm In 1973. HONS 019316 -7- Two publication* -- one in 1980 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the other In 1979 by the Sport Fishing Institute, Washington, D.C. -- report that PCS persistence In the environment, as measured by the "half-life" In fish tissue, ranges from 4 to 5 years, not hundreds of years as sometimes claimed. A 1979 National Research Council study found significant reductions of PCBs In air over the North Atlantic Ocean. Our Position Monsanto has no Intention or desire to re-enter the PCB business. However, company policy dictates that PCBs, like other Industrial chemicals, receive proper handling and disposal to minimise environmental release. Also, the company is concerned that PCB* be accurately understood and fairly portrayed. This often has not occurred in the past, and the result has been needless public panic and overzealous, costly regulation. -oOo- For additional Information, contacti Dan R. Bishop or Larry J. O'Neill Monsanto Company 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, Mo. 63167 (314) 694-2891 or (314) 694-3084 HONS 019317