Document bE3EBqwb4Z7Y42JkwwnMJRQ3

I Monsanto FROM (NAME ft LOCATION) E. V. John-- St. Louis November 10, 1969 PCB Position Statement October 29, 1969 - D IV/b TO Mr. P. B. Hodges - PHODG Mr. M. W.Farrar - MFARR Mr. W. R. Richard - WRICH Mr. E. P. Wheeler,- EWHEE Attached is the recently updated position statement on polychlorinated biphenyls which will be used in reply to press queries on this subject. Segments of it have been used in replying to Nature magazine on the recent bird kill in the Irish Sea. Also attached is a memo from H. N. Dahlstrom for your information. EVJ/stw Attachment P. S. As we were sending this to you, the Nature magazine article arrived in the mail. It is also attached. f DSW 202959 L STLCOPCB4052955 STATEMENT FROM: MONSANTO COMPANY ST. LOUIS, MO. ) Oct. 29, 1969 Late in February, 1969, a West Coast newspaper carried a major feature about ."a menacing new pollutant" found in the San Francisco Bay area. The article was based on marine life research carried out by Dr. Robert Risebrough of the University of California. The article stated that residues of pesticides (DDT and DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) were threatening the welfare of certain birds and posed a long-term threat to humans. Monsanto manufactures polychlorinated biphenyl and markets it under our Aroclor trade name. (There are other manufacturers in Europe and Japan.) We, therefore, would like to present some additional facts. The work done by Dr. Risebrough dates back to earlier research by other scientists who, while analyzing pesticide residues in wildlife, soil and water, encountered unknown or "interfering" substances in the parts-per-million range. STLCOPCB4052956 ) 2 MONSANTO COMPANY Several years ago, two Swedish scientists at Stockholm University's Institution of Analytical Chemistry, Professor Gunnar Widmark and Soren Jensen, reported they had identified these other substances. They said some of the materials were polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB. Since PCBs are not "broadcast" or spread around the land as are pesticides, the scientists theorized that the source must be the industrial wastes of PCB users. In addition to the work of Dr. Risebrough and the Swedish scientists, there have been other studies which indicate the presence of PCBs in the environment. Monsanto is concerned over the situation and is cooperating fully with these studies. The common uses of commercial PCB would not normally lead to its release into the natural environment. A principal market for PCB is in electrical applications where they are used as insulating fluids for transformers and capacitors. In this use, the chemical is completely sealed in metal containers. Another market is for heat-transfer applications, where the PCB fluid functions in a closed system. -more ----- ------------ -- DSW 202961 STLCOPCB4052957 --3 MONSANTO COMPANY PCBs are also used in several applications where the chemical is incorporated into a polymer as an integral part of the solid material. Such polymers are used in highly specialized applications as an adhesive, elastomer or surface coating. Polychlorinated biphenyls are not sprayed or dusted on crops, woodlands or any other areas, as are pesticides. To our knowledge, they are not used in tires, house paints, household products, epoxy resins or major vinyl plastics, as has been charged. Therefore, conclusions as to the source of PCB found in the environment are difficult to make. Some qualified scientists, using the latest laboratory equipment, have correctly identified the substances as being PCB. However, most scientists are not yet willing to indict commercially produced PCB as a pollutant. It has also been implied that polychlorinated biphenyls are "highly toxic" chemicals. This is not true. Just like other industrial chemicals and home products now in widespread use, PCBS are not hazardous when properly handled and used. During more than 30 years of U.S. production and use, cases of any toxic effect have been extremely rare -- and then only where the simple precautions recommended for use>were not followed, -more- 1 It DSW 202962 STLCOPCB4052958 --4 MONSANTO COMPANY ) ) Monsanto has research programs under way to identify the compounds, reported to be PCB, and locate their source. The programs involve precise analysis of environmental samples of water and soil. Also under way are studies to determine the biological effects of deliberate dosage of PCBs on fish, birds and mammalian animals. Special emphasis is being paid to endocrinological .effects, mineral metabolism and reproduction physiology. --r-"" Some preliminary biodegradibility studies are under way. Further studies to clearly demonstrate this phenomenon are contemplated. ' Very early results of chronic toxicity studies confirm that PCBs are not highly toxic. In 90-day studies on rats and other normal laboratory species, there have been no adverse effects when feedings of up to 100 parts-per-million were administered. Monsanto has always cooperated on a regular basis with federal, state and university laboratories in their analysis of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues. We will continue to do so. Additionally,Monsanto will continue to exercise the highest ^ DSW 202963 degree of control in its manufacturing, shipping and storing _' i i of PCB -- as we do with all products. In the functional fluids _l market, we have carried out a program for several years for the C reclamation of usedPCBs to reusethese valuable materials. ; v -more- STLCOPCB4052959 --5 MONSANTO COMPANY The source of the marine life residue identified as PCB is hot yet known. It will take extensive research on a worldwide basis, to confirm or deny these initial scientific conclusions. D IV/b -0O0- OSNN 20^6" STLCOPCB4052960