Document NeG98bR58jq0MVeDEpEEYQYn8

^ PAGE B-l Ban Urged On PCBs In State The chemical, polychlorinated bi phenyl (PCB), la used in a variety of household produces. The commienon, on a mi vote, called for its ban on a national level aa well u in Michigan. "We hope this state will lead (he nation In banning PCB," the com mission said. Chairman Carl Johnon said he seee no alternative to an outright ban. Flab in Lake Michigan have PCB levels above the llmlta allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administra tion. The FDA haa aeized some shipmcnta of cituba caught in Lake Mi chigan because PCB levels were found to be up to 20 parts per million. The FDA legal level la five parts per million. Human health could be tnAngered at a level of 900 parts per million, the FDA said. PCBs appear in a wide range of products, from paper to hand soap and also are used in Industry. The sole U.S. manufacturer Is Monsanto Chemical Co., of SL Louis. _ r"ihs company agreed la the early 1 1970s to stop setting PCB for some [ industrial usee. But the chemical has since bean sold In other Industrial, ^commercial and household product!. "A banis a drastic step to take, but this is a drastic problem," said Wil liam Turney, director of water man- agemant for the Department of N turn! Resources. to the proposal from legislative leaden. Chemical leveia of DDT and most other chemical contaminants have declined in Michigan since 1970, tests show. But Turney said leveia of PCB In Lake Michigan have stayed the same or increased in different fish sampled. When PCB wes first found in Saginaw Bay tn I960, levels of the chemical in catflrii were up to 200 parts per million. "We're not unique. Other states, if they take a look at it, wiu discover that they have similar levels to con tend with," said Howard Tanner, director of the DNR. "I would like to see Michigan lead the way (In banning use of PCBs) because 1 think it could be mack more detrimental to mankind am ww bad realized," said Johnson. moms C7U3i