Document NGV7bBEpRXDZ8gaD8v80pJojy

GE Says PCB PCB Biodegradable It Discharges Is Biodegradable By l.BK C01.RMAN ' SU(( Writer ! HUDSON FADES Lucas I'. Hart. manager of 1 lie finmal KIciTmc plants in llmlsmi Kalis ami Kurt Edward sail) news slnrics e/innMtnnt' GK's din barge of PCBs into the MucIm*ii Itiver have faded In Mention the lyt'cof PCR I'niK or pol) chlorinated , biphenyls is a gimip of chemical compounds used in (lie manufacture of caiiacilnrs. Marl said the PCB Gcneml Electric now uses and riisrharites nt the rote of w.-num^s about eating fish taken from Hie Hudson Itiver, especially striped bass and olhtr long-lifcd fi.-h. In the Kepi I issue of Sports Illustrated, the mazarine's lead story by liohcrt I! Hoyle, entitled 'PoiMined Kish. Troubled Wains," discussed ll** i'l.'Hs probk-m noting ihet General Electric hns turn dumping an average of JO pounds of PCBs into (tic Hudson per day since 11*71. Boyle claimed this was "the largest nonaccidcntal release of these poisons yet discovered in Hie U S and 1 ul>out five gallons per day possibly the world." into lire Hudson is desniljttl Hart, in answer to Hie by the number 1018. statements noted that CE lie explained that I'CH has reduced discharge* 1016 Is 99 per cent from something like 30 biodegradable and has not pounds per day earlier in the been the type of PCBs found ycar-to less titan five gallons In the striped bass and other per day now. fish token from the Hudson Hurt's major points were ' itiver these: UK has used this PCB 1016 -- GE has changed to a since October. 1*71, Hart (Please turn to PCB, page 6) said. Dcfore that, when the environmental threat of 1 I'CBs was not known, a PCB ; 'of about 93 per cent I hloileci odnbiUly was used 7T>yGK. CIF.iiS FAUS, N. y, FCST4TM D.HS68 Other types of PCHs -- < and Hart said there were many -- have extremely SEP 6 '975large concentrations of the non biodegradable elements in them and remain in the environment a very long lime. Monsanto is Hie only maker of PCBs. he said. The state Department of Environmental Con servation lEnConf. in reviewing recent findings of 'the Environmental Protection Agency, noted ' that certain species of long* lifed Hudson River fish in' the Glens Palis ares showed higher than allowed levels of PCBs. EnCon Commissioner Ogden neid then issued >* ' . x"\ - -- (Continued from pagel) type of more biodegradable run - The PCB discharge from UK into the Hudson has hern lowered mid the company is trying to even decieasc this five gallon per day discharge from both plants. -- GE technicians and scientists arc constantly looking for an en vironment ally 1100 per cent) sound replacement for PCBs as it is used in the Ill nesses . The state Health Department in Albany said Friday that health depart ment personnel are in the midst of making studies of illnesses due to PCHs in (he Hudson Falls-Fort Edward area. Since the state has issued warnings not to eat Hudson Itiver fish, especially longlifed fistf like striped bass, the Health Department has been conducting a cancer study aimed at persons employed at the General Electric plants in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls. Both of the GE plants use manufacture of capacitors The Hudson Kails GE plant depends on Pills for both capacitor niamif.iclure and sometime transformer manufacture PCBs -- a clear, walerlike liquid -- is presently the most desirable type of compound for use in snaking rapacilurs because of ils high stress levels and non flamible nature. In order to have capacitors that are fire-proof, PCHs are needed, he said. Studied PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls in the manufacture of capacitors. Dr. William Burnett of the Health Department's cancer bureau is in ehargo of the occupational cancer study that is expected to be finished sometime this week. The health dcpuilmeul i also making a water sample study in (lie Hudson River. Tests have shown that PCBs cause cancer in rats and illnesses in humans when ingested in large quantities. Prior to 1970. when I'CH* w eru not considered a threat to the environment. Hart said that Monsanto nax using PCBs m p.imt, heal exchanger* and the so .called carbonic** ' cnrhnn paper Monsanto has chon gefjjliitMiltuit'.uiriiamg ItouruT. and.nmv it i> used 'ijjpi'il__c x do s i v.c I y_, nr capacitors and tf.iiijliu.mor ^TufrV.'T*** '.ml " The' Spurts Illustrated j story noicd that when : tingested in large dose*. | (PCItst cause miscarriages and stillbirths . " : Hint said dial he felt the type of PCHs GE is now (fistti.irping into the Hudson wcic not endangering the environment He added that he admitted that it would lake lime for the hits residue now in the rnor tn disappear He said It tx the older, mure non biodegradable PCBs that KI'A and EuCtm arc finding in higher than allowed levels in Hudson River fish m the Fort Edwurd-lludxon Falls area Hart said GE uhjertiv* in the PCBs situation Is to "obtain a practical minimum" in the amount it uses [_Sfew Mni'h'iti** iriui nt nt Herb Beadle, of Greenwirh. ruts the General Electric Company's new PCBs injector machine located in the Hudson Fills plant. Company officials indicate the new process allows much less PCBs - a chemical com* pound - from getting Into human contact. PCBs are used In the manufacture of capacitors like those in the picture. . nous 032609