Document gmRk3gxjXJYEpMq21nN7gro3

4ki( This newsletter is published by EPA, Region V - Chicago "PCB in Eggs Dooms 300,000 Chickens" "PCB Warning on Mississippi" "Stricter PCBs Rule Delayed" "Equipment Is Dismantled at Plant with PCB Leak" Recent weeks have seen an increase of news stories across the country about PCBs. This month Environment Midwest takes another look at this group of toxic chemicals: what EPA is doing about them and what remains to be done. We also bring you up to date on the work ot Dr. James Allen, a leading researcher on the health effects of PCBs on primates, and ot Dr. Douglas Hallett, whose work is with herring gulls on the Great Lakes. By Susan Nelson As Environment Midwest went to used cooking oil that had been contam were before regulations and the ban. as press, blood tests and breast-milK sam inated with PCBs. Health symptoms-- they continue to be when improperly ples were being considered in the West skin lesions, constant abdominal pain, disposed of--they do not break apart tor residents of nine States who had numbness and pain at the limbs, men Into new, less harmful chemical ar possibly been exposed to PCBs In their strual disturbances, babies born with rangements. Instead they remain bond food. Health officials had found PCB abnormally dark skin, forms of cancer, ed together (chlorine molecules and bi contamination in food or animal feed in changes in the blood--have been and phenyl molecules) and bioaccumulate in Idaho, Utah, Montana, Washington, Or continue to be documented by scien organisms throughout the environment. egon, Iowa, North and South Dakota, tists who have followed up on what is In other words. PCBs that have been and Minnesota. And the list of States now called the "Yusho" incident. discharged into waterways, for In teems sure to grow. Manufacturers of PCBs and those stance, will remain there, or in the bot PCBs--polychlorinated biphenyls-- who transported and used the chemi tom sediments, where organisms that have been called one of the most per cals began to reduce and restrict PC8s inhabit those waterways feed on PCB- sistent toxic pollutants In the environ In the early 1970s. In 1976 EPA contaminated matter. These organ ment. Members of a broad family of or banned the manufacture of PCBs. On isms--from microscopic plankton to ganic chemicals known as chlorinated July 2, 1979, EPA announced the total small fish to large fish and gulls to hydrocarbons, PCBs were discovered in ban on use and transport of PCBs. ex man---retain PCBs in varying levels in the late 1800s but were not used in cept by EPA-approvod permit. (heir bodies, particularly in the fatty tis dustrially In the United States until EPA's Region V Toxic Substances sues and the organs. Aa PCBs move up 1929. Office sent registered letters to the Re the food chain, from lesser organisms Between 1929 and 1971, however, gion's 2,837 known users of PCBs be toward man, their concentration in PCBs came into wide usage fn industry: fore the ban. (The largest users are creases. Their chemical and thermal stability, lire transformer repair or service compan The same pattern is followed it PCBs resistance, and good conductivity were ies; heavy industries, including steel are- accidentally mixed with poultry properties that suited them for electrical producers, that use transformers, capa feed, for instance, or if PCBs are mixed transformers and capacitors. Other citors, and hydraulic systems; and utility with oil used in cattle back-scratchers properties of PCBs were well-matched companies.) The Toxic Substances staff in teedlots, as happened this last sum to the manufacture of such various has responded to more than 2,000 mer in Kansas. products as ptastlcfters, adhesives, PCB-related telephone Inquiries. And, Since tho ban on PCBs was an paints, carbonloss carbon paper, inks, as part of a nationwide program EPA nounced, the U S. Food and Drug Ad and lubricants. began in January of this year, the staff ministration, which sets allowable stan In 1986 Swedish scientists began to has been making compliance inspec dards on PCBs in foods that humans peak and writo of the toxicity ot PCBs. tions of known PCB users. Results of eat, announced it was lowering PCB In 1968 somo 1,200 peoplo in Japan those inspections are being evaluated levels (or the lour food categories in ware accidentally poisoned after they for potential EPA enforcement actions. which PCBs are known to be tound. As Why alt the attention paid to some reported in Environment Midwest in Au thing the eye can't even see? gust. theso levels wore as follows, with PCBs are harmful. Oneo they are re leased into the environment--os they HONS 000022 EM/OCtoiER'-NOVtMDEn 107$ MAJOR PCB DISCHARGERS AND PROBLEM AREAS1N REGION V, BY STATE (Noncontaminatcd Groal Lakes rivers and harbors typically register PCB levels of 1 part per million (ppm).) STATE ILLINOIS INDIANA LOCATION OF PROBLEM Waukegan Harbor ' North Ditch tributary to Lake Michigan Bedford MAXIMUM PCB CONCENTRATION 10,000 pprr j> sediments 245,000 ppm In sediments 30.000 ppm in sediments and sludge: 300 ppbiliion in outfall water TEAR OISCOVEREO 1976 1976 1976 MICHIGAN Bloomington Indiana Harbor Saginaw River . Above 50 ppm In sludge 26 ppm* In sediments 23 ppm' In sediments 1976 197 r 1976 MINNESOTA no known signilieanl discharge areas OHIO WISCONSIN Ashtabula River Fields Brook tributary to Ashtabula River Fox River Sheboygan River 63 ppm in sediments 72 ppm in sediments 61 ppm* in sediments 190 ppm in sediments 1979 1979 1977 1976 Soil adjacent to Sheboygan River 120,000 ppm 1970 `Based on currently available data. Further investigations may yield significantly higher concentrations of PCB*. lowered levels to become effective manufacture, use, and transport, espe This situation is also likely to change AuqiisI 28, 1979: cially in the Midwest. soon. Region V has received a hail-doz Eggs...from .5 to .3 parts Region V is number one in the Na en applications for high-temperature in per million (ppm) tion for heavy industries that require the cinerators that propose to dispose of Milk and Dairy Prod- use of PCBs, says Dr. Sheldon Simon, PCBs. Among the applicants, according uct8...from 2.5 to 1.5 ppm director ot Region V's PCB program in to Charles Grigalauski of Region Vs Poultry., from 5 to 3 ppm the Toxic Substances Office. "People Hazardous Wastes Branch, are firms in Fish and Shellfish...from 5 are becoming aware of the ban and the Chicago. Chicago Heights. Detroit, and to ? ppm new regulations now,'* he says, "And Middletown, Ohio. Applications are Lower levels for the first three industries should have had in-house pending. When the appiications are groups went into effect, as planned, on programs since 1978" for the proper deemed complete, a public notice will August 28. But the National Fisheries marking, use, storage, and disposal of be issued soliciting public common!*. Institute, a trade association, tiled ob PCBs. When PCBs are burned al tempera jections to lowering the standards for Indeed, it Is the disposal of PCBs tures too low to destroy the molecules, fish and shellfish and requested a hear that poses the greatest threat to the en they escape Into the air, where they are ing. vironment: The growing awareness of carried by wind currents to locations Thorelore, allowable standards for PCBs has not yet brought about a simi hundreds or thousands of miles from PCBs In edible portions of fish and lar growth In finding and gaining ac their source. It is this type of burning shellfish remain at 5 ppm. The hearing ceptance for properly managed and ap that is said to be introducing PCBs lo has yet to be announced, (ft you want proved disposal sites for products con Lake Superior. Though levels there fall to make your opinion known, either taining PCBs. below FDA's standards, scientists say supporting or opposing the new. lower Only seven such sites currently exist there is no other source lor Lako Supe level, send your comments to Hearing in this country for land disposal of rior PCB contamination than airborne Clerk, FDA, Room 4-65. 5600 Fishers PCBs: in Niagara Falls and Model City, pollution. EPA is conducting and fund Lano, Rockville, MD 20857.) New York; Livingston, Alabama; Santa ing research into the PCB problem in The increased alteniion beino paid lo Barbara County, California: Beatty, Ne Lake Superior, as well as PCB research PCBs no doubt comes from a better-in vada; Arlington, Oregon; and Grand throughout the country. formed public--as wolf as the much View, Idaho. An application has just It is to combat improper disposal tighter regulations that pertain to PCBs. been approved that establishes Region techniques---and to end the stockpiling (For a copy of EPA '$ Final PCB Ban Vs first PCB land disposal site in Cler of PCB wastes that is inevitable until Rule: Over 100 Questions l Answers mont County, Ohio, near Williamsburg. and unless proper disposal facilities aro To Help Vou Moot These Requirements, Properly managed landfills and high- found and approved--that EPA is ap write lo EPA`8 Otlice of Toxic Sub temperature incineration are the only plying much of its efforts. ^ stances, TS-799, Washington, DC two known means lor disposing of 20460.) PCBs. Only one such incineration facili Unfortunately, there Is much more lo ty currently exists, a General Electric controlling PCBs than banning their Company incinerator In Waterford, New York, that is permitted to accept only on-site PCB wastes. Susan Nelson Is s writer/oditor with PA Rvjion V EM/OCJODCR -NOVtMBER 1979 000023 ________ Monkeys React Drastically to PCBs Dr. James Allen, an experimental tho fourth month, Irregularities in the r* pathologist at the University ol Wiscon- menstrual cycle were recorded." Six of In Medical School, is a leading re* the eight females that were bred after earcher in tho hold ol health effects of six months of PCB exposure conceived; PCB contamination. the other two did not. (Ail ol the con- He began PCB studies--"primarily Irol-group females conceived.) Ol those 1 their ability to stimulate the enzymes that did conceive, "lour experienced that control liver function"--in 1967. early abortions." All eight of the 2.5 When the Yusho incident occurred in ppm females conceived, but only live c- Japan In 1968, he says, "we expanded carried their Infants to term. (All of the our work to include more clinical stud control females carried their inlants to ios. term.) All PCB-exposed infants were "In a relatively short time we found small, "and at birth their skin contained that rats were relatively poor subjects. detectable levels of PCBs. We switched to rhesus monkeys in "The Infants were permitted to nurse-- 1968-69 and found that they more for four months," Dr. Allen reported closely approximate symptoms ob four years ago. Within two months the 'll' served in man." infants showed swollen lips and eyelids, Dr. Allen presented results of 'PCB loss of eyelashes, lesions, and in studies -- of rhesus monkeys at the creased pigmentation of the skin. Wisconsin Regional Primate Research "Within four months, three of the six in Center--el EPA's National Conference fants that had survived died due to PCB on PCBs, hold in Chicago in November, intoxication." 1975. His results startled the scientific Dr. Allen's studies of (he effects of world. PCBs on rhesus monkeys has contin Female monkeys that had been fed ued. with (he last group of infants bom 25 ppm PCBs in their diets "developed early in 1979. His evaluations of the facial lesions similar to those observed studies also continue, and he says that In the animals receiving higher levels of results suggest both the toxicity and the PCBs/' his 1975 presentation stated. tenacity ol PCBs upon the more than "Alter two months on tho PCB diet it 100 monkeys that have been involved was necessary to discontinue the expo to date. sure duo to the severity of the intoxica "Another group of females fed 1 tion. One of the six experimental ani ppm and .5 ppm PCBs lor more than mals died lour months after the initial two years were bred alter six months," exposure to PCBs. Tho surviving adult Dr. Allen said recently. "The mothers female monkeys continued to bo devoid showed no abnormalities over a period of eyelashes and displayed lacial acne- of two years" at those levels. "Howev form lesions two years following expo er, their infants have shown the same sure to tho PCBs. Infants born to these changes observed in the previously de females were small and contained PC8s scribed experiments." Of 16 females-- In their tissues at birth." eight fed the two levels of PCBs and Female monkoys that had been given eight controls, which received no PCBs 2.5 and 5 ppm PCBs in their diots de -- "eleven animals were both. Seven . > veloped facial swelling, swollen eye survived. There were [spontaneous] J- rirr"" - lids, loss of hair, Inflammation of the abortions. femate monkey /a shown before iocrrvg ; kin, and acne within two months. 1 By Beyond this, the PCBs apparently months and after receiving the PCB diet the must no bring about "learning disabilities, small toss of haw and acne. infants, altered immune responses--in fants that are more susceptible to com mon bacterial infections--and learning and behavioral deficiencies. "I Hunk wc can look at these data." Df. Allen told Environment Midwest, HONS 0000^4 12 I M I r / t m PCB for w* | IN* change is "and say that PCBs are extremely tox- to. The fetus and the neonate--new ' born--are the most susceptible to PCB exposure. The adult may show no signs of intoxication, yet there will be an ef fect on the infants or the fetuses " It is his opinion that rhesus monkey data being collected suggest that wo should look closely at the human popu- J lation. for fetal and neonatal effects ef*V > that may be occurring. These rnay be very subtle, but they should be clari fied,'' (Admittedly, such tests will not be easy. "How are you going to tell if a child has a little lower IQ, or is a little ^ , ^ more susceptible to a bad cold, or is a 1- . t tittle smaller?") * s As for any such PCB-reluted studies - r under way, Or. Allen said lhat Iho Na- r " tional Institute of Environmental Health % ' has a father large study in North Car- , ollna. and a number of States have t smaller studies." r " Apparently there is time for such % studies. "\ am not aware of any inci dents of human infoxication by PCBs ' beyond the Yusho incident and isolated * industrial cases, he said. "There are no documented cases of PCB intoxication in the human population.'' After a , -pause, he added: "Maybe we havenl . looked closely enough., but the reason we should do epidemiological studios (those that deal with incidence, disltib- ; - ution, and control of disease) iu to sec ' if we do have a problem. A* V* ' "If there are injurious effects, one )hopes we ll be able 1o modify these through our own efforts, or throuqh re pair mechanisms in our own bodies so ' * that these effects will be less toxic." i tA M tu . 1 L**-^.* Yet, Dr. Allen says, "Even though wo have no proof that human babies are .4 affected, I would go along with regttia-, , . ,j | (ions In many Slates in the Great Lakes i area that pregnant mothers not con- ______ . . , ,...j, . . ,,,, sume (potentially PCB-contaminatedl How do PCBs tiffeef rkcsu* monkeys7 The adtrff females here are ew- . .. * donee. The monkey on the c is a control. Iho one on the right receiwd hsh during pregnancy or while nurs- 5 ppm PCB in tier diet lor si* months before this picture was taken Note ing. loss of weight and hair. -SN tool n -NOVf.MOLH 19/9 HONS 00002S Herring Gulls: a New Indicator? The race to track down PCBc in the environment follows severs! pniht. Sampling fish and other sources of food tor mankind Is one such path; Vis reason la obvious. Anoiher, newer method of monitoring for PCD* is the use ol a r-poctos of gull that, like fish, foods on smaller fish. Like loft, those gulls move abnul in order to find food. Unlike fish, however, the gulls l;nd to move larthor, and they are easily observed In (heir habitat. And, according to Iho Canadian scientist who is carrying oul cxtcruiive research with them on the Great Lakes, these pulls are a much more sensitive barometer to accumulations ol PCBa and other con* tamlnanli than the fish Ihnt are teslnd by each State and lha goverev menu of both the U S. and Canada, finding* arc so new that Ihry have not been widely published In scion* IHtc journals, which jrrovirto poor review ol new scientific evidence. Out information about research on the frerring guU was presented In July at the annual Great Lakoa Water Quality mect'ng ot the International Joint Comnufisicn (IJC) In Detroit Explaining his work was Douglas Haflett, a rennrch scientist with the Canadian Wildlife Service in Ottawa. Dr. Kailctt has been Involved in studies ot horring pulls stneo 1975, when Canada's research that had begun around 1970 became a major Canadian research ctlort the puRs -- a nonmipratory species found within lha entire Northern Hemisphere and particularly throughout the Great lakes region--*w*ro chuson for several reasons. First, they am found throughout the Great Lakes region. Researchers in Sweden and in Japan were conducting studies at that same timo on herring gulls in the Gallic Sea and the Sea ot Japan, respectively, Dr. Hatted says, and were Nnding clovatod levels ot toxic coninimnonls in the birds. More urgent In 1970, though, was Ihe tael that Irerring gulls on Lake Ontario wure known to be in houblo. and toxic contaminants were Ihe suspected rea sons "Mepioduction success ol the birds was virtually zero." Dr. Mallctt ays Herring gitfl populations are relatively stable, he explains. They live hi colonies that are well rshiblMliud; adults tend to mate tor life when they are lour years ot ape. ho adds Death's, Dr. Mnliett suys. ' Herring gulls ate the only apectes wtlh which we can visibly mourlm tiro biological cllccts ol contaminants on an annual Icwnr. as wen as look l Irettjj in residua levels themselves, to IPA Doevmvra Photo see if they're going up down " The gulls are especially valuablo be cause "they Integrate the whole Great Lakes system by eating so many fish." he says. His research is based en 10 colonies ol herring gulls, each well estab lished and consisting ot c^proximnteiy 100 larmlirs. The Can,td;jr.:; hiivo chosen two colonic at rchcr end of Lakes Superior, Huron. tin*.*. and Ontario. Since 1975 Ihe U S Fish & Wrldlife Service has momlorr I iwo eofonios of birds on Lake Michigan, which ties entirely wilhrn U S houndtries. Three visits are made to each colony each year. On Ik* firs? v,-1. -<;ienlists liist count and Ihtn randomly select 10 eggs from iu .V-'ittit families.'' (Each tamale ijj9 three eggs.) These cgqs arc Ltkrn In k lo Iho same laboratory and nalyrrd tor levels ol b*occnmulhi-on ol \ .irs "Levels in tho eggs rovctvy reflect levels in Ihe livers of adult biul\ Or HaMott sr.ya. (During Inlrratve studies--condo-tcd in 1<7b-77 ot t .ike Ontario and in 1976-79 on Lake Eric--researchers have i.if en .,. .ul 10 adulls oh the whole lr*e. Wc have tried to capture branding p.ms so (hat we can tell levels ol bioaccumulation in the mother, lather, hikj in.< 99*") On the second visit researchers count the number of chicks Ihnt hve hatched, which is a lurtSn assessment ot the fertility level ol the rgga. Tho third time out. Or H.VIett says, researchers "count how many actual ly flew away." Results of this research aro encouraging. Dr. Hattctt says The levels of PCDs between 1974 and 1978 have decreased on aH ot Hh- G'. .t Lakes, according to analyses ot the horring gull eggs. Irtko Ontnng pulls we "buck to normal, and t>I the lakes are showing normal itpioduiiyu' rales, he says. "Herring gtrts are on ttia increase now. Studying gulls is but on* ot several ways lo monitor Ihe cnvror'rr. o* for PCDs and other conlamnants that accumulate in living oru-uiMus lor tong periods ol time. "I trunk we certainty nurd to continue to m.-nitor fish, to bear out things were finding in hemng pulls." Dr H.ilk ll r,.<y". EPA and other B0omrtfe-th.it are committed lo-preleclmg |m> n-v.i.mment continue to monitor, and to bo receptive to. new im thoJs for as sessing toxrc contaminant* m the water that mankind depends on ` - 5.N 14 EM/OCTOOt.n -NOVEMULH W/U HONS 000026