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SEP 7 REC'D
In Arctic Animals
"I think The problem Is un
THE MEW YORK
Among the reports were der control," he said. "We have
these:
'
I * very Urge margin of safety
TIMES
)9/5/72
7 ^Scientists from the Canadian1 for PCB as long as we avoid
wildlife Service have found undue, accidental exposures." {jusntities of PCB in polar bears, Dr. Kolbye said that although seals and Arctic, fish. The re his agency's tests showed that, searchers said the nearest site PCB was present in many foods.<
-of industrial usage of PCB was the levels consumed by the
thousands of miles south of average person were only one-
where the animals live.
tenth as high as the maximum!
"FOroSSTILLCim ((Analysis of water and bot safe level set by the food and; tom sediment samples by the drug agency--5 parts per mil
:SA TOXIC CHEMICAL U.S. Geological Survey has de lion. tected varying levels of PCB in Scientists have found that for the waters of New York. Con many persistent toxic chemicals,
necticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the risk of damage to health
VAftor
3
Year*.
F.D.A.
Finds
Jouth sippi,
Carolina, Texas,
Florida, Missis Arkansas and
depends not only on the con centration of the chemical at a|
fc On* in Fiva With PCB California. Tests in other states given moment but on the length
U* _______________
"are expected in 1973.
of time a person or animal isj
v* By BOYCE RENSBERGER
((Michigan State University exposed to the chemical. researchers found that the rea The F.D.A. analysis of fish
Yhrea years tner the Food son for an almost complete css- showed that of 670 samples)
and Drug Administration'! first Satlon of reproduction in mink tested. 54 per cent contained
^fadings that some foods were) ranches in the Great Lakes re PCB in concentrations ranging
* contaminated with a toxic in; gion was the presence of PCB from trace amounts up to 35
dustrial chemical known as in the coho salmon fed to the parts per million. Eggs, the sec
'PCB, quantities of the persistent mink. A level of S parts per ond most common source, show
, substance are still being found) million of PCB in the diet ed PCB in 29 per cent of 550.
f In food on grocery shelves. I caused complete reproductive samples tested. Cheese andi
; T Of Roma 3,500 samples of failure.
milk were the least likely (6]
Mlsh, cheese, milk and eggs f FCB, which stands Tor poly and 7 per cent) of the foods)
{'tested In the last 18 months, chlorinated biphenyl, is one of tested to contain PCB. although one out of five contained mea the most widely used industrial in one esse a milk sample had
surable levels of PCB, an F.D.A. chemicals. Various types of PCB a concentration of 27.S parts administrator reported during, are used as plasticizers, ad per million. past week's ennual meeting of hesives, sealants and printing In another report to the
the American Chemical Society1 inks. They are also used In ca Chemical Society, Dr. Anna R.
yiere.
pacitors, in transformers such as Yobs, of the Environmental
C The report was one of 23 on utility poles, and as heat-cx- Protection Agency's Office of) ''Various aspects of the PCB prob change fluids in many industrial Pesticide Programs, said there)
lem delivered during the week- operations. The sole maker of was now substantial evidence i Jong meeting, in general, the re PCB in the U.S. is Monsanto, that many human beings have
port* indicated that PCB was which uses the trade name acquired levels of PCB in their)
one of the most dangerous (hun Arodor.
tissues.
dreds of times more toxic than It is generally believed thaf The tests were done on fatty
DDT, for example) and most
widespread of synthetic chem-i
kali.
!
One Government researcher]
reported evidence suggesting)
PCB finds its way Into the en vironment as the result of burn
ing discarded plastics and other materials In which ihey are
used and through leakage from
tissue removed from 637 per sons either during surgery or] at autopsy. The samples came from persons from 38 cities in 18 states.
that half the human population i machinery in which liquid PCB Just over half, 50.7 per cent,!
may already carry quantities of! la used.
contained measurable level! of
PCB In its flesh.
In July. 1971, for example, a PCB, the concentrations ranging
There were also reports that heat exchanger used in the from trace levels to 16 parts
steps have bern taken to reduce manufacture of a chicken feed par million. the risk of additional quantities) supplement leaked. PCB got in-i
of the chemical ''escaping" from | to the supplement and, even Us industrial applications and tually, into all the chickens that
FROM THE DESK OF:
' entering the ecosystem where j ale tne feed. Some 77,000 chick-j
it could cause birth defects snd| ens were destroyed to prevent'
Hver. dqpuge.
, their reaching the market. |
V. John
Dr. Albert C. Kolbye Jr., de
puty director of the F.D.A.>
Bureau of Foods, spoke at the!
Chemical Society meeting and aid that despite the widespread presence of PCB in the environ
Stohr Corey
- A3SB - B2SL
ment. the chemical was not con
sidered now a threat to human
health.
.
Papageorge - B2NA
Bergen
- B2SL
Wheeler
- A2SA
Stapleton - B2SA
HONS 068050
Easley
- 1920
A. Marsh - 5040