Document bOaE0a029EOwYqo6241Nr19KZ

Monsanto 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard St.Louia. Miaaeurt 83160 (314) OXford 4-1000. March 3, 1969 amme cmm/cals otvaio* On February 24, the San Francisco Chronicle carried a major feature about "a menanc ing new pollutant" found in the San Francisco Bay area. The article was based on marine life re search carried out by Or. Robert Risebrough of the University of California. It stated that residues of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) were killing certain marine birds and posed a long-term threat to humans. . ,, This story has caused considerable comment on the West Coast and its claims may be repeated elsewhere. As you know, Monsanto manufactures polychlorinated biphenyl and markets it under our Aroclor trade name. We, therefore, would like to present some additional facts. " The work done by Dr, Risebrough dates back to earlier research by other scientists to analyze the amount of pesticides in wildlife, soil and water. The initial pesticide research was extremely difficult since any search to detect materials in the parts-perbillion range also brings out other "interferring" substances. DSW 009612 r Several years ago. two Swedish scientists at Stockholm University's Institution of Analytical Chemistry, Professor Gunnar Widmark and Soren Jensen, reported they had identified the other substances which were appearing during analysis of chlorinated pesticide resi dues. They said some of the materials were polychlorinated biphenyls or PCB. The amount reported was in the parts-per-billion range, or less. Since PCB's 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. Or. Risebrough's more recent work reports the identification of PCB, along with DOT and DDE pesticides, in the tissues of birds and fish on the West Coast. The conelusionsof these scientists are puzzling from several aspects. Polychlorinated biphenyls are stable chemical compounds which are essentially insoluble in water. Their use does not make them easily released 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. - PCB's are also used in several "plastic type" applications. Here the chemical is incorporated into the polymer as an integral part of the solid material. This applies whether the polymer is used as an adhesive, an elastomer or a surface coating. ,, The Swedish and American scientists also imply that polychlorinated biphenyls are "highly toxic" chemicals. This is simply not true. The toxicity of any material, whether it be chemicals, drugs, natural plants or even foods, is relative. Compared to the thousands of industrial chemicals and home products, PCB's are not toxic unless they are mishandled or misused. During more than thirty 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. 5W 009623 LEXOLDMONOOOI30 -3 To our knowledge, polychlorinated biphenyls are not sprayed or dusted on crops, woodlands or any other areas, as are pesticides. It is, therefore, not only puzzling, but extremely difficult to con ceive how commercially produced PCB can show up in wildlife as DOT and other pesticides appear to be. This reuses the question whether the substance identified in the Swedish work, and now in California, is actually PCB -- or whether they are materials which, due to the metabolism of other materials in the marine environment, appears to be PCB. Unfortunately, even though techniques for analyzing tissue samples have become quite precise, the ability to analyze the possible impact of naturally occurring substances in the food cycle of living organisms has not made comparable advances. Monsanto has a research program to confirm the identity of the compounds reported to be PCB by the Swedish and California scientists. We also cooperate, on a regular basis, with federal, state and university laboratories in their analysis of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues. Additionally, Monsanto will continue to exercise the highest degree of control in its manufacturing, shipping and storage of PCB --as we do with all products. In the functional fluids market, we have carried out a program for several years for the reclamation of used PCB's to avoid disposal of these valuable materials. The source of the marine life residue identified as PCB is not yet known. It will take extensive research, on a worldwide basis, to confirm or deny the initial scientific conclusions. We will keep you advised of our own research and are available to answer questions as they may arise. Very truly yours, /ecd Elmer P. Wheeler Manager Environmental Health oS 009614 LEXOLDMONOOOI31 Recipients of the letter from Elmer P. Wheeler : Mr. Abe Kalstein Aerovox Corporation 740 Belleville Avienue New Bedford, Massachusetts 02745 Mr. James Kinney General Electric Company Redmond Circle Rome. Georgia 30161 Mr. William N. Robinson Cornell Dubilier 1605 Rodney French Boulevard New Bedford. Massachusetts 02744 Mr. A. O. Mauser Electrical Utilities Company 2427 Saint Vincent Avenue La Salle, Illinois 61301 Mr. Ray Clark Electronic Components, Inc. 902 Crescent Avenue Bridgeport, Connecticut 06607 . ' Mr. M. E. Scoviile General Electric Company 10 John Street Hudson Falls, New York 12839 ` Mr, Jerry Rowe, Plant Manager P. R. Mallory Highway 32 East Crawfordsville, Indiana 47933 'Mr. E. Blase Sangamo Electric Company Pickens, South Carolina 29671 Mr. Joe Kurela Sangamo Electric Company 1301 North 11th Street Springfield, Illinois 62702 Mr. Jack Steel R. E. Uptegraff and Company Scottdale, Pennsylvania 15683 Mr. Edward L. Raab General Electric Company 100 Woodlawn Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 Mr. H. J. Zeck Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Co. Columbus and Preble Avenue N. W. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233 Mr. Ralph Meyers ' McGraw Edison/Line Materials Co. 12th and Madison Avenues South Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53172 Mr. William Reinhardt Moloney Electric Company 5390 Bircher Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 63120 Mr. He man Gabel Niagara Transformer 110 Church Street Buffalo, N%ew York 14202 Mr. John E_ Schork Research-Cottrell, Inc. Radel Avenue . Bound Brook, New Jersey 08805 Mr. Livingston Rice Sprague Electric Company North .Adams, Massachusetts 01247 Mr. Robert T. Innis . Westinghouse Electric Company P. O. Box 341 Bloomington, Indiana 47401 Sierra Transformer Company 8831 Miner Street Los Angeles, California 90002 v* . Mr. R. T. Beckler Standard Transformer Company Warren, Ohio 44482 Mr. B. L. Britt Wagner Electric Corporation 6400 Plymouth Avenue St. Louis, Missouri 63133 ! ] \ 5 \ I 1 i LEXOLDMONOOOI32