Document NGVg7B3XGQj9ja5zeaw6OdLLQ

NEWS _ fob RELEASE IMMEDIATELY 1970.' Monsanto z. V. John (314) 694-2891 *jsuc *emncNs CP**rue*r ISO I. II. Ml,,,,,, till) MONSANTO CITIS ACTIONS TAKEN ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE ST. LOUIS, July 16 -- Monsanto Cocpany, tola U.S. producer of an industrial chemical called polychlorinated biphenyl (?CB) , today said recent political charges end sensational headlines about the chemical causing "a major ecological crisis" completely ignore voluntary actions the company haa taken to restrict use of the caterial. . "Our program began back in 1968 with the proper identification and measurement of PCS in the environment and will conclude chia year by our unilateral action to restrict its use," Howard L. Mincklar, company vice president and general manager of its Organic Cheaicale Division, said. ' He added that Monsanto had not been pressured into action by any legislation or organised group, "Ve have taken decisive-action baaed on evidence that PCS is a persistent chemical which builds up in the environment." -oore- 009731 HARTOLDMON0034742 --2 hCKSAHTO: MIHCXIER'S REPLY IQ PCS CHARGES xxx amirearer, c. If "Cceaenting on a recent report that PCS can indue* birch defect* in anisala, Hinckler said, "Monsanto i* noc aware of any scientific data that indicate* polychlorinated biphenyls nay cause birch defter*. Th result* of comprehensive toxicity studies, iponaorad by Monsanto and using tha usual species of laboracory animal*, hava failed to product tueh efface*. "Scar* caccie* and sensational reporting do noc serve cht public interest nor solve ecological problems," ha laid. "Only a frv report* have Cared why PCS* vara aver developed and why they are used today. Nor have the consequences of noc using PCS been explained. "Vhac should be enphasired," Minckler continued, "is chat ?C3 waa developed over &Q year* ago primarily for use a a a coolant in electrical transformers and capacitor*. It is also used in ccnntrcial heating and cooling system*. It is noc a 'household' itea. . "Anyone who live* in a Large city t* familiar with power failure*. During period* of peak paver need*, air conditioning and rafrigeratioQ fail, lights go out and coosutars are' stranded. If pcerer caspaala* were to remove PCB froei equipment, ve have been told chat major blackout* would occur throughout the world. -taora- osu 009732 HART OLDMON0034743 -- 3 HCHSAHTO: KlhOCLZR'S RIFLY TO PCS CHARCZS zxx world. "PCS lx used in electrical equipoent i a tafety fluid. PC hxx rxpLxcxd ccsbuatibl* oil productx which have, on cany occtalcnx, exploded and burned, causing daxchx and injury Co hunan life. Today acata and local Lava all over cha country require che ua of noa-flaaseble fluids in certain electrical equipment ax a aafacy faacurx. Ac ch nccent, there art no aubacicuctx avaiLabla which aqutl cht aafacy ptrfomt.nct of PCS." ' . hJonsanto aald 1c incanda Co ccnciaua tailing PC3 for "cloaad-aytcaa" uata auch ax tlaccrical components and htac-craaaftr systems. "Vich rigid ccncrol ovtr whtrt cha produce goes, ho* it la handled and disposed of, wt believe che safety fmet ions of cha product can continue to serve society and che environment can be protected," Minckler said. "Ve are disconcinuing sales into 'open systems' - - adhesives, sealants, chlorinated rubber, specialty paints, etc. "Tor other uses, such as fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, where PCS cannot be acrlctly controlled, ve have t reformulated some fluids xnd they are on the aerkec.' The new products cootain other fire-resistant ingradtents. Ve will continue tG develop alternate fomulations which do not contain persistent PCS. Ve will not abandon hydraulic fluid uaars," Kineklar coeaented, "as has been reported." -un> OS* 003733 HARTOLDMONOQ34744 --4 HCHSAHTO: HTHOCLZS'S RZPLY TO PCS CHASGZ izx raporcad." ^. Home:to ha a alao eatabliahad a nw ayataa for diapoaal or racycla of apant PCS. A epacial high-taaparacura incinarator will braak down PCS Into haralaaa natariala. Tha cocpany alao reganarataa apanc flulda for rauaa. Tha incinarator will ba offarad to cuatcoara who cannot otharvlaa daacroy or raganaraca chair old flulda. "Although loaa of PCS frem our sanufacturing planta ha a baan nagligibla, wa hxva furthar tightanad up our production tachnlquaa and inatallad new pollution abataoant davicaa," tha Konaanto axacuciva aaid. "I repeat," Kincklar concludad, "our prograa waa inltiatad and conducted by Kona an to alona. It will ba concluded thia year. Va balitva it la a petition any raaponalbla cocpany would taka." -0O0- OSW 009734 HARTOLDMON0034745