Document aJrqy63k2Var5zNBg6Y8x43j9

tlHVARtiSVIlir, IlL gm.UU>LHCER JUN 23 1970 fy&a The requlafed oppose ^ui&'Kon n/f' ~ By Martha Anglo and Robert Wallers ' . Newspaper Knlciprlse Assn. ABOUT THE ARTICLE . Washington ' federal regulations. They Bitter comj.1t.lnti about aren't popular. They drive vp Bvenraloua federal regulations costs. They cause? headaches have become a popular Hem for businessmen and con* vltliln the business communi turners alike. ty. But too oftcu Ignored aro But lost | all of that is why the corporate excesses that they were necessary in the require government rontrol In first place. the public interest, In this article. Newspaper One ' current ease In point Enterprise Association coluin- Involves the Monsanto Co.. nlsts Martha Angle and Robert SI. I*ulsba*cd firm that has Waltcra give an example of embarked upon a mulDmilliom why some federal regulations . dollar,propaganda campaign to counter "an Irrational, anti* arc required from a consumer point of view. chemical mood that seems to. EHHHHraMHB be sweeping the country." " Monsanto has good reason to * be concerned about that purported threat because It Is one of the nation's largest , producers of Industrial Chemicals, "Our industry, our company, our jobs are at Make." (he company says In , Mirk brochure. . trine ads aimed at ."IhoughOcadcrs," a documen tary movie, traveling exhibits and "a huge cadre of Monsan to employees giving speeches at every level." Bui the publicity blits baa barely mentioned poly* chlorinated biphenyls *nhc Public Is being fed a (PCRs) *- a highly toxic, ex dally diet of bad chemical tremely persistent family of . Hews. In newspapers and Industrial chemicals produced magarlnca. On radio and In this country for many years television," claims that exclusively by Monsanto. 1 book let, "llic message comet Rack In 9070, the late Rep. through loud and dean William J\ Ryan, 1>-N,Y,, Chemicals arc dangerous."' . citing early scientific warnings While "not Opposed to about PCI* dangers to humans, Severnrnent regulation." lonsanto wirns: "Burning possibly harmful chemicals la called for strict federal con trols. The indignant company assured him that It was taking - ' only one way the government voluntary action "to insure can cripple cur industry. Over* that (PCBs) present tho regulation Is dust as serious a minimum possible threat." threat." By mldlMJ, however, PCB In an effort to Influence leaks had produced one of the ruddle opinion, Monsanto has Hunched a "Chemical Pacts of major chemical disasters of Die past decade. Food products . I,lfe" program with a budget wired, confiscated, destroyed of $9.8 million last year and or banned hy federal officials $4.5 million this year. because of J'Cli contamination ' That money will pay for hi I9i0 and 1071 included: . television commercials with More than 400,000 eggs In ` "emotional impact," mag- Virginia and North Carolina, 530,000 pounds of turkey roll In An estimated 900,000 tons of South Carolina, 50,000 turkeys PCRs have escaped Into the in Minnesota, and 950,000 environment during the past 49 chickens In Maine, New York and North Carolina. Even after the widespread fears. One Environmental rotcetton Agency scientist h: t, warned of "gtoss contamina damage became known, tion of D>o global Monsanto claimed it was being ecosystem." victimised by "scare tactis, PCRs unfortunately are political charges and sensa Soluble in the fatty tissue of tional headlines. "East birds, fish, animals - ami autumn, however, the company humans. Recent ERA surveys finally halted all PCI* -produc have found ycatly Increases ef tion and distribution. . < FOR residues In human Many of the cases In (lie tissue. early 5070s resulted from a "It was much more pci sis* single major PCB spill, con tent than we originally taminating 99 million pounds of thought," confesses one fish meal. Rut subsequent, less ' Monsanto official In St. Louis. dramatic sccpago Into the food "Maybe we should hove chain makes PCBs a continu tracked the problem a Utile ing threat to public health. harder and a little faster." OR3GJNAT. COLUMN by Martha Angle and Robert Waiters HONS 000351