Document O37z6ZR206E0gnwJmbBay84Ze

loxicoloqy occupational modicin* bllofQV clinic! phbrmocoloqy communicable diioaiet reiearch detiqn \ r\ GRIFFITH E. QUINBY, M.D.. M.P.H. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE Fotf Office ox 131) 9uo01WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON 20 January 1971 Arte Code SO* TEL: NOrmendy J-4I7S Monsanto Chemical Company COO Ilorth Lindberg Blvd. St. Louis, liiscouri 63166 A ttention; Dr. R. Ihunot' Kolly, Medical Director Gentlemen: Reference i s made to your statement on PCB'n published in Dr. Riscbx'ough's a r tic le "lbro L ette rs in the V.'in d 11 in Environment. Janunry-February, 1970. I have collected much of the lite ra tu r e on PCB's but I do not have any of your b u lle tin s or publications. Those*would bo appreciated. While I was a consultant to the Pinch Commission on P esticides in 1969, I trie d to incorporate more m aterial -on PCB's in the report of th at Com mission, but only lim ited and incomplete review of the lite ra tu r e was in cluded. I t i s lik e ly th a t I w ill be in v estig atin g PCB's and other polychlorinated hydrocarbons fox* some year's to come. Your cooperation in providing all. fa c ts th a t are not trade secretsw ould be greatly appreciated. . <^XfJb Personnel in your company th a t are fam iliar with my background of toxico lo g ic a l in v estig atio n s of p esticid es during ray 26 years with the U.S.Public Health Sorvico w ill a tto a t to the fa c t th a t wo in tho Public H ealth'Scrvico {xfuk 4- > have done everything humanly possible to p rotect tho financial in te re s ts 'IcJu-uf and reputation of isonsarito as well as al.l other manufacturers end. formalo- to rs , short of conpromifxing our s c ie n tific in te g rity . In my practice of I'Cct1..co-lcr:al toxicology. I have cojxsulted more often in the defense of in dustry than on tho side of claimants. On the other hand, when componioG burned down waroliouses end polluted stroicas (diiwiring x/utor supplies) with ' spontaneously combustible form ulations, thero van v irtu a lly no d c fe n sib ility fo r such hnanrcUra-odncing actions, and I served for the claimants. Enclosed i s a copy of my c u rriculum v ita e and l i s t of publications. With tills background, I havo questions to put to your company i f you w ill reply: (1) Who wee responsible fo r the statement in Risebx'ough's a r tic le end what i s lxic professional background? Surely lie has not read tho medical lite r a tu r e on PCB's going back to the early 1940's. (2) USDA has evidence th a t PCB's wore broadcast as orrtonders of p e sti cides. Wa3 1bn nantonot aware ? (3) Common uses of PCB'c such as in carbon pancr, inks, varnishes, paints, rubbors, wiling insulators, adhesives, fiberglass, etc. (c ite d from your Tech Bull O/PL-306) would "noxmally load to i t s (PCB'c) x'elcaso into tho environment" as uould lub ricrn tn , cutting . o ils , and oarburator flu id s. Why did your statement maintain otherwise? ^ NEV 021427 729482 Monsanto Chemical Co 2- - 1/20/71 (/f) Have you had any occupational illn e s s e s from PCQ's and ere thoy published or available to publish? There aro many epidemics reported in the 1930's and V+.O's th a t make your statement "eases of toxic e ffe c t have been rare" -- to ta lly u n re a listic . While the PCB's as manufactured may not be hip,lily toxic, v/hen overheated theso products must, have much Greater to x ic ity to account for the liv e r , kidney and dermal damage reported. In the in te re s t of your own se lf-p ro te ctio n , I would urge your company to toko a r e a l is ti c a ttitu d e toward the PCB's based on fa c ts . Any further offorto to conceal the' tru th s about PCD's as alleged by some reporters w ill most lik e ly lead to much greater opposition from the public ns well as increased lia b ility . . Very tru ly yours, Consulting Toxicologist and Enc. President, Amoricnn Academy of Clinical To:dcologists NEV QZX*2ti