Document aB502dQr8G8xYNgMMbkbLqd9M

Text of PCB memo Htrt ii the tt of too letter being ml by foe state to county health de-% partmaats (or distribution to utopia Ihrinf near PCB spillarona: Thar* hat baan much concern recently about the criminal dumping of PCBa (priychtoriatttd biphe nyls) eloaf North Carolina'i rands. The purpose of IMS memorandum Is to present the facts about this situation from a health standpoint What an PCBs? PCBs are a froup or class of chemicals which have been used widely in industry sine* the eorly IMO'n These aUy liquids have served a* scents in electri cal equipment In many other Industrial situations. They do not tend to break down very easily over time. Unfortunately, they have found their way into the environment down lhroa(h the years so that fish, wildlife, domestic ani mals and many humans now carry very small amounts of PCBs In their Min, To complicate matters, PCBs are usually mixed wUh other chemicals be fore beiai used In Industry. Daring use, there is some breakdown of these chemi cals lindudlnc the PCBs) similar to the changes that sccor m motor sU In an au tomobile with ese. What are their effects se humans? There la no Immedtata threat to the heeMh of anyone living la the area of these PCB spills. In the few situations where humans have been palssned by these chemi cals, the chemicals were taken Into the body either by swallowing largo amounts orby getting largo amounts on tha skin over a purled of tlmo, as in poop)* working In factories using PCBs to manufacture elec trics! equipment. The ether chemicals be sides PCBs la the oily sub stance spilled on the road way might cause minor temporary irritations to eyes and throat, and might cause nausea in those mellinf these1 chemicals immediately after the apill. These are temporary symptoms that should dls* appear hi a day or two. They do not cause permsnent ill effecta. Is it dangerous to walk where PCBs have been spilled? While there is like ly no danger from occasion ally walking through these oily spill areas (either barefoot or in shoes), be cause of the small exposure that would occur, we be lieve it Is wise to avoid these areas unless it is ab solutely necessary. If you walk through one of these areas and note an oily substance on your feet or shoes,' it should be washed off with soap and water. Contaminated cloth ing should not be worn until thoroughly washed. To assure people that the risk of exposure is negligi ble, the Division of Health Services is conducting a small study of PCB levels in selected Individuals who have had the heaviest expo sure to these spills. Are wells, vegetable gar dens, livestock aid pets likely to be contaminated with PCBs? PCBs, like other oils, are only slightly soluble in water. Also, they are tightly bound to soil particles where they are deposited and thus do not move greet distances in the soil quickly. ' , It is extremely unlikely that residues from these spills will find their way into wells. However, we are checking well waterfor PCBs where wells are lo cated within just a few feet of the spills. So far results on this testing have been negative. Livestock should not be allowed to graze on the spill areas. Some of the grass growing by the roadways is contaminated with PCBs. Peto should ah* beleg*out of these trace. KBs tram these mats would be unlikely to earn laminate pastures er g*rdens unless there was im mediate rtm-sff et the time of the spill before mehkif into the ground er heavy erosion. If this has occurred, do not allow ani mals to gram to these areas, and do not eat vege tables from contaminated areas. Remember; 11 (Thereinno bnmndtote danger to anyone's health. (2)Avohf. at made an possible, walking in the spill areas. 13) 11 you do fed yaa have had KB vpoeare t* any part of your body, wadi with soap and water es soon as possible. 14) 11 you fret yoe here had unusual eacamive evposaro to PCBa, contact your county health deport ment. SPA team turns up first solid PCB due Agents of tha federal Eavbatuneatol Loustvttle, Ky., municipal senega qOra Protection Agency (EPA) now have an im portant due which may lead them to whoaw dumped thousands of gallons of poly chlorinated biphenyls along rands la North gave Um EPA Its most Impsetsot da* to solving that case -- which aaw to to the courts. Inins, oat of six EPA officialsssdpsd Cvollna. . to Ute csss, said the agency la meting ae That's tha ward from Paul 1. Train*, ' Inventory *f all campaide* wha as* It* EPA'i director of enforcement tor ito dor. Southeast Region. . After that, EPA and state tow isforee Train* today told Tha Raleigh Times meat officials expect to tree* to* rente of that EPA chemists have identified the the chemical all Ih* way to Ha dtspeeel enact polychlorinated biphenyl compound along North Cardins roads. which apparently wan intentionally depos Trains we* reluctant to elaborate so to* ited along lb* road to circumvent a new efforts of law enforcement authorities to todarailaw. catch toe culprit. . The polychlorinated biphenyl Is Araclor, "Tbert'e tbepuuulMlltyef fedmalcrtoto manufactured aotely for the /htunaente aal action hero," said Trataa. "Pa I'm eat Chemical Corp. -- 'going to discuss leads, frankly. 1 want to EPA officials had suepected Monsanto's bring tola thing to Justice." product was lit* one dumped along the Whoever dumped to* ckendcab eeaM made. Bet Trains's remarks today repre face prosecution under theTonic Substance sent coafirmatkat of tha first solid lead la Control Act Conviction coaid result to a Ihucfltu. year to prison and a fSJN flan tor each "Tilt key to IdeatUytag the chemical," Trains said. 'These chemicals *11 hero fingirpflnti** - day Ae law is violated. Regulations on foedisposalafpetychieri- aated biphenyls, which wet* pnwadgstod Trains said that determining the exact under to* set, toah effect Apstl to. nature of toxic chemicals deposited to the PAUL L. UtAUSE HONS 0 0 1 8 0 5