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2lj* Dalian DALLAS. TEXAS d. r,,L.:. : 1530 MAR 7 76 I New chemicals cited as reason to strengthen EPA By DOROTHIE ERWIN 1 The latest ted actors among enviroo- chemicals-- vinyl chloride and potychforinated biphenyls (PCBs)-- prove that national legislation to require testing and controls on commercial chemicals is long overdue, according to Environmental Protection Agency {EPA) deputy administrator John Queries. Quarles, do a regular inspection visit to the Dallas regional office ot EPA, said the agency needs its tend streng thened to protect the public from some f the approximately TOO new chemicals introduced every year without testing teaitii effects. While chemicals in foods, drugs, cos metics and pesticides are tested and regulated under other federal pro grams, Quarles said, "the vast majority of new chemicals are in industrial uses that are not subject to regulation." He said EPA is hopeful that 1971 final ly wiU bring congressional agreement " " o. on a toxic substances control bill that was first introduced in 1971. BILLS WERE PASSED by both the Bouse and Senate in 1972 and 1973 but in differing forms that could not be com. promised. This year, House and Seoete . versions are ciaeer together in the past Recent disclosures ot the health hazards trom vinyl chloride, PCBs and pesticides have pointed up the gaps in present knowledge and in legal protec tions, Quarles aakL . EPA has oo authority to require Industry to test chemicals before using or marketing them, except in pesticides. "in many instances--end vinyl chlo ride is a good example--chemicals have been used for years with virtually no testing,'* Quarles saad. The discovery that some workers ex posed to vinyl chloride in industry were dying of a rare form of fiver cancer set off the intensive investigation of that chemical, which has been widely used in consumer products ranging from food wrappers to water pipes. 7T--------------------- THE FOOD AND DRUG Administra tion banned its use as an aerosol propel lant in 1074. EPA undertook plant moni toring, with companies' voluntary compliance, and then in December pro posed limits oo the plants' vinyl chloride emissions (under a provision of the Clean Air Act) to protect people living near there. Meanwhile, however, IS cases of the fatal liver cancer among plant workers have been confirmed in America and other studies have linked the chemical with other fiver disorders, other cancers in mice and rats and high rates of birth delects in humans. PCBe, used widely for 40 years as insulating fluids in electrical equipment and in a variety of other products, have been fpund to cause reproductive fail ures in birds, fish and monkeys and later evidence indicates they may cause cancer in mammals. They accumulate in human fatty tissues. Unacceptably high levels have made some Great Lakes fish inedible. LACKING AUTHORITY to restrict uses of PCBs, EPA two months ago began a push to elimioate them from plants' air and water waste discharges (which it can regulate by law) and for a -voluntary limitation by manufacturers and uses. EPA said then, however, that "hundreds of millions ot pounds" of PCBs were in die environment and would remain there to move into life systems unimpeded. Both the Senate version of the toxic substances bill (which was approved in committee last month) and the House version (still in committee) would re. quire manufacturers to test certain sus pect groups of chemicals and report test results to EPA before marketmg them. EPA could restrict or prohibit their use if adverse health effects outweigh their benefits. StiU in dispute is the extent o( the pre-market screening that EDA it self should perform. ; MONS 0 3 7 0 7 5