Document ew4RaL8xv7a3X5L4262pQQBM

6 CHEMICALS "fiyroll per Employee" (include! ell employees) for SIC 28 increased at an average rate of 3i percent annually In the 1959-64 period and 4.1 percent annually from 1964 to 1969. In the letrst five-year period Agricultural Chemical* (SIC 287) had the hlgheit rate increase with 6J percent per year. The lowest payroll rate increase occurred in Paints and Allied Products (SIC 2651) with a 5.1 percent annual rate. The data indicate the reletlvely wide divergence in prodin> tivity changes within the chemical and allied products industry and. as might be expected, even greater differences appear If the analysis is extended to the 4-dlgit Industry level. POLYCHLOROBIPHENYLS FOR USES OTHER THAN AS NONCOMBUSTIBLE ELECTRICAL INSULATING LIQUIDS TO BE DISCONTINUED Folychlorobiphenyls (PCB's) have been available com mercially for 40 years. Recently PCB's have claimed the atten tion of ecologists after they were discovered In the environment In 1966 In Sweden and In 1967 in the United States. Since then, traces of PCB's have been found in fish, bird, water sediment, and other environmental samples when teats for PCB's were made. Samples collected from England, Scandinavia, North Sea, The Netherlands, Antarctica, Central America, and many parts of the U.S.A. attest to their ubiquity. The properties that made PCB's Industrially useful are cause for their persistence In the environment. They mht oxidation and hydrolysis, are soluble in organic solvents and are compatible with organic materials. PCB's have become associated with living tissue with resultant toxic effects. An interdepartmental task force of six Federal agencies has been established to coordinate a Government-wide investigation into PCB's contamination of food and other products. The Food and Drug Administration says that, based on current adentiOc knowledge, the Government tees no imminent threat to the safety of the food supply or to the public health Dorn these chemicals. .. < Folychlorobiphenyls are manufactured by one U.S. firm, Monsanto, and by others In Japan and Europe. Production elan la known in East Germany, Chechoslovakia, Rumania, and the USSR. The chemical stability of polychlorobiphenyls, their useful ness at high temperature* and their high dielectric constants for insulation have made PCB's desirable industrial materials. Various products have been available which are either liquids or resins. A wide spectrum of applications for the PCB's has devch oped from utilization of their useful properties. In electrical application they are nonflammable Insulator liquids to Ireneformers; insulators In fluorescent fixture components; an*' insulating and fire resistant plasticisers in wire and able eoeOngs. Other uses have developed through PCB's thermal stability and fire resistance. They have hed application In hydraulic fluids; specialized lubricants and gasket sealers; heat transfer agents; end machine tool cutting oils. Miscellaneous uses- are protective coating formulations for wood, metal and concrete; adhesives; and in encapsulated form, In carbonlew reproducing paper. Information of put U.S. utilization of PCB's are now avail able following the release of these figures by Monsanto, the only Triric 4.-U4. Production and Salaa Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCS) ' (Short tons] \' \ Vaer . * ,\ ' _ - ................................. .................................. 1970....................................... .............. tu. production 20,256 - 42,627 Domestic sates Intuladnf nqutm uses* 14,417 ... - 20,208 AM ether uses** ............ 4,401 10,205 tees............ ................................ 1987.............................. .......................... tees........ *.................................. .\.. 1988......... ;............... ............................... 1894.........................................................'. 1B93........................................................... 1992........................................................... 1881........................................................... 1880..................................................... ` ;. : ; ; - 41.427 87.688 52,828 30,240 98,417 22,507 20,089 20,535 20.781 ----- 20,606 20,307 - * 18,007 .................. 10,205 ........... 15,709 .....................11.440 11,885 .............. 11.100 . 12,444 - 11,800 10,040 10,042 0,008 ASM 7,010 7,550 7,001 RIOS U.8. pert selss, crush - "" 4.850 0,020 Mid 4,002 5,420 MIT 2.080 1,824 1.000 1070 1.027 **lnotudtnf hast trsmfer ryitwnt, hydrsutlosAubrikent*, ptasttoiMri. Seurea: MementoIndustrie!ChemieshCompany. HGNS 083197 l DECEMBER 1971/MARCH 1972 7 U.S. producer, when (heir decision wet mede to pheee out eerteln uiei. The company said-substantial farther reduction will he ocompUshed In 1972. The atteched table provider date of production and ealet of PCB'i for the patt ten yean and an ultimate of 1971 utape ae the company win end ealea for alt nondnaulatlnt liquid utape. Bor Insulating uaa the liquid la In eeled electric*) component! for the Ufe of the equipment where It acta aa a fire-resistant safety fluid. Monsanto's report shows that dosed system domestic elec* trice! uses (torn 1990 to*1970 accounted for (I percent of total ueaie. Nonelectrical sales are being phased out at installed equip ment requiring PCB's it replaced. Monsanto's domestic end foreign sales to paints, plasticisers, sealants, adhesives and aM other open-eystem uses have been discontinued resulting In the reduction fat 1971 of the sales from 16 thousand short lone In 1970 to an estimated 4.4 thousand short tons In 1971. Estimates of foreign production are not available; however, Monsanto's past exports Indicate the United State* has been an important source for world msrfcets. DEVELOPMENT OF THE VENEZUELAN PLASTICS INDUSTRY The Venezuelan Association of Plastics Industries between the sum of these figures and actual imports la due to the (AVIPLA) held the Second National Plastic* Exposition fat fact that not alt plastics companies are AVIPLA members. Caracas from October 31 through November 7, 1971. The expoeitfon consisted of 37 locally recruited exhibitors with over 100 stands, almost filling the exhibition hall utilised by the first U.S. Solo Exhibition of 1967. The showing Included plastic products ss well as machinery In operation. Only German and Italian machinery wes shown. AVIPLA sold slightly over 50,000 tickets, and business wes reported to be brisk. Practically all machinery exhibited wes sold off the stands. . Material ` AM ................................................................................. Net ......................................................................... ............... Polyester! ..................................................v.................... SMeonat............................................................................ Ur*e>fwmeMshyde.............. Metric tons 00 100 7*0 100 37 100 The show Indicated that the Venezuelan plastics industry Polyurethane .................................................................... 1.047 ' has experienced impressive development, which AVIPLA attrib Acetatee . .'....................................................................... 34 uted primarily to import restrictions. The industry now not only Critutow baaed ..............................................'.................. M produoas consumer goods, toys and expendables, but has also entered into the production of such items as boats up to 62 feet long, Industrial tubing, plastic pumps, unitary shower stalls and bathrooms, construction materiel end automobile parts. . - Some statistics win show the present rise and scope of the Industry: -. CeNutow Metals In meets.................................................. PVCIemuMon)............. .'V;........................................... PVC (nispenrion).................... PVC <compound)............................................................... Acrylics ............................................................................ Polyamide! ....................................................................... Polystyrene leaneral purpoee) .......................................... TO 3.560 0.080 18.000 013 106 2,710 Polystyrene (high Impact) . ............................................... 3.421 Numb* ef oompsnlvs (AVIPLA members! ........................... 106 Polystyrene (wpandstole) .................................................. 1,134 Total Invested emltri ................ .........................................104.000.000 Polyethylene (low danatty) .................. ........................... 11,801 Total employment ...................*......................................... 0433 . Polyethylene (high density).......................... .. i............. ..............Oriel ............................................ Consumption per espH*.......................... 080.000.000' Polypropylene ................................................................. 0 ItHowuni Plartteltert ...................................................................... 0.067 1,010 3,017 Qtewflber........ .. .............................................................. 40 Consumption of raw materiel has shown considerable fat- cresses. According to official statistics, Venezuela Imported 9,361 metric tons of resins In 1960,27,774 metric ton! during 1963 and 70,004 metric tons In 1970. AVIPLA reports the fol lowing consumption figures among Us members during 1970. The dele do not include raw materials used for the production of synthetic textile flben. A differentia of approximately 6,000 torn . \ ' . / \ ;The United Elates supplied about half of the plastics mate rials oonsumed In Venezuela in 1970. Our exports to the country, as reported by the Bureau of the Census, are given in the table below. Weal Germany, England, Japan, Prance, end Gmada were other major suppliers. Trade sources report that the price differences are minimal but that credit terms very consider ably and are often the determining (factor. MONS 083198