Document Ra8eLOOL2xgR85LGZQ2YVoR1X

ALBUQUERQUE, N. M. JOURNAL 0. 64,500 8. 16,500 OCT 8 1976 ^ . V.-' Danger Ends Firm's Output Of Insulator ST. LOUIS (UPI) - Mon santo Co., the nation's lead-" Tng supplier of polychlorinated biphenyl, used as an electric insulator, said it would stop production of the chemical by Oct. 31, 1977, because of possible hazardous effects on bumans. Monsanto said the phasing out of production over the next year would give time for manufacturers to find substitute materials for PCB. Substitutes developed by the electrical Industry are being tested, although they may not prove as effectlvt in realiting fire as PCB. The Environmental Prot ection Agency, .which had called polychlorinated bi phenyl a "significant hazard to human health and the environment,H welcomed the news of Monsanto's decision. "The Monsanto decision is a significant step In dealing with the total problem or PCS contamination," said EPA administrator Bussell E. Train. "Environmental contami nation will continue to be a problem due to the millions of PCBi already in landfills, soils, river and lake sedi ments, in our air and water and in wildlife and human tissue. This contamination wilt be there for years -- moving into life systems, including humans. Monsanto said last Janu ary it would eventually stop production of PCB, but no date was set. Polychlorinat ed biphenyl has been used since stout IMQ as fire-re sistant fluids and electric insulating in capacitors and transformers. Monsanto once made as much as 8S million pounds of PCB a year, but that produc tion has dropped to about 27,000 pounds in recent years as fears about envi ronmental damage mounted. Monsanto's American pro duction of PCB was handled by about 20 employes at the firm's plant in Sauget, III, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, and tht firm said probably no employes would lose )obs because of phasing out of PCB. Total employment at the plant is 1,300. Monsanto said sales of PCB amounted to less than half a per cent of Monsanto's business. Monsanto also aakaa PCB at a plant in England, and production there also will be phased out, although on ao timetable. PCB-fUled transformers are used In high-rise build ings, hospitals and schools and in electrically powered urban commuter trains. Their function is to either increase or reduce voltage or change the currant in the system. Capacitors contain ing PCB are used to control voltage and reduce power losses in fluorescent and mercury lights, AC motors, air-conditioning compres sors and television receiv ers HONS 050584