Document NGKnqb2Lxo1pZq61MB1EwoXdy

roiNKUlY, PA. NEWS HERAlfl o.,ooo MAH 23 1976 ______ ,,... ____________ Toxic substances cause alarm WASHINGTON - Should otw Industrial chemical be serened more rigorously so that those that are dangerous to life and health can be kept off the market? Congress thinks they should, and during the past (No yean both tha Sonata and the House of RepreeentaUvos have adopted bills to provide for icreonlng of "toxic sub stance#." But oona becama law because the two chambers could not agree on how severe the restrictions should be. This year committees of both bouses torn to be moving along the same compromlee path, attar a earies of furore over dangers to public health. One occurred In Virginia over an Insecticide called Kepone, another in New York where It was found that fish In the Hudson river wore bring Im pregnated by carcinogenic pCBs ipolycblorlnsted biphenyls) from two General Electric pleats. In all, over Ml chemicals have been cited as dangerous la congressional bosrinp, according to Sob. John Tummy (D-Calif). Tim national eanctr institute at tributes over o per cent of deaths from cancer to en vironmental factors -- and death rates from cancer roes steeply la 1974 and 1971. Kepone was manufactured by a small firm Ironically called Ufa Selsnee Products for giant Allied Chemical, mostly tor export. It had produced nervous demon, liver damage, slurred speech end toes of memory among not only the worken whe had to wade In the stuff. but alee among members of their families. It got into the Jamae River, making fish and oysters dangerous to oat. The scandal has dons much to Improve the prospects of a law controlling toxic chemicals. The truth Is, however, congress long ago passed, and In 1173 strengthened, Urn In secticide, Fungicide and Rodentlctde Act, under which the Environmental Protection Agency could have acted against Kepone (If Kepona bad been classified as a registered pesticide, which it was not at Urn time). This will remain true The Office of Management and Budget and Commerce Department are sympathetic to this argument, which up to now hhs been tbe main stumblingblock to congress. These to also a suspicion that the EPA may be swamped If It geta all the additional regulatory duties that It Is sashing. Tbe result has been that the even If the toxic substances bill reaches the statute book. bills now to the committee stage But there la no legislation covering PCBs and the federal agency has bad to rely on voluntary co-operation from Industry to reduce Um risk. PCBs have been used for e long tlmo, undorscorlng tbo argument of the bill's sup porters that the risk may not be perceived until many yean requite effective screening only of substances mi a priority Hat that tbe EPA would draw up (though it could go outside this llstlf necessary). Every manufacturer would have to notify the agency three months before putting a new chemical on the market and mors time for testing could be have pasted and Irreverstbla damage dons to those who have required. The EPA would set bean exposed. Moreover, tt Is requirement! for the tests and urged that tt Is better (and publish Die results. It could also call for tests of substances certainly easier) to limit or baa already on (hr market. the ueo of a dangerous chomlcat 1 But will President Ford sign before firms, workers and 1 the bill If It roaches his desk at communities have built up the height of the election vested Interests la its production. -- campaign, as seams likely? Recently he told the agency that . Even the chemical com looks after health and safety to panies, which would have to cany out the closer checks for workplaces to treat safety, admit that there are businessmen as friends, not gaps to be ruled In protective enemies. Its now standards for legislation. They argue, the amount of asbestos, arsenic, however, that there Is bound to lead, beryllium and noise to be duplication of existing law If which worken may be exposed 1 have been deferred from before a sweeping bill is passed and the election until various dates they fear (or say Uwy tear) that to 1977. That was Indeed a their secrets may leak out to friendly act towards buslnem competitors and that the testing IbeEanemtotriLaaden to be required may be w ex pensive that many small firms may be forced out ofbusiness. HONS 037096