Document kmd1Bo6B5ZeLzezMZYwQRRx80

f.lTCH, HL miGRAfH a3uoo , APR 28 1976 4jf"- f Briceland, Dlinois EPA chief, opposes ban on PCB chemicals SPRINGFIELD. IU. (AP) -Illinois' top environmental official says he (toes not favor passing a law to control use of PCBs. chemicals which some experts claim are threatening wildlife and human health. "These (claims) are very scary to me...but on the other band some drastic ac tions can become counterproductive/' Richard H. Briceland, director of the state Environmental Protection Agency, said Tuesday. Briceland said a ban on PCBs could force use of substitute chemicals that are even worse. "The health related data (on the effects of PCBs) is very questionable, the impact is very questionable," he said. Briceland's comments came in testimony before the House Committee on Environment. Energy and Natural Resources, which is considering legisla tion to curtail severely the amount of PCBs in commercial products. PCBs became a focus of world concern in 19*>8 when more than 1.2W Japanese su^ored 2i'\er*e e"(\'S a"cr er.Vnjt r.ce c:.' ".a -'na*.1*! '>v " c- /'-revV O'- chemicals "probably could be handed through the existing system (of state regulation)." PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are liquid compounds that for the past four decades have been used in such products as paints, inks, electric transformers, flourescent lights, air conditioners and other electrical equipment. Karl E. Bremer, a regional official of the U-S. EPA, told the committee that medical records show cases of skin le sions and irritation among workers in volved in manufacturing PCBs. In the Japanese incident skin pigmenta tion problems, lesions, eye discharges, miscarriages and stillbirths resulted, said Bremer. He said that in the United States. PCBs have been manufactured by a single producero the Mnntan'nrhgmlfiil (/> The firm now limits PCB sales to use Inclosed electrical systems and plans to phase out Its sales depending on the availability of alternative fluids, be said. 3u`. Bremer sr-c* there have been reports cr *---g rmoorted fo* o"ic*r ijv s. ` cy c*-vjvd `r' V `'Hjrc in chubs exceed the (U- s.) Food and Drug Administration's temporary tolerance level of five parts per million," said Bremer. "These concentrations have not decreased since 1972." James D. Grifflth, repretioncalled PCB Gone, told the committee that "Late Michigan, the many small lakes of Il linois, every fisherman and every person who has fish as a part of his diet is threatened by PCBs." Griffith said Indiana and Michigan already have enacted legislation controll ing PCBs. and such law's are pending in Wisconsin and Minnesota. "It is. ladies and gentlemen, an emergency." said Griffith. "Illinois is a little behind these other states, and I hope (the law) will be enacted this session." But Briceland said stale officials have never been given a satisfactory explana tion of why the FDA set its tolerance level for PCBs at five parts per million in fish. The FDA acted "very arbitranly,"he said. Briceland said the state EPA has found orv'y ore firm making a significant ccn- tr'M' 'o 'hr !>C'/ cor'.; rTM.ivvV.or. of o' V.Ncv.-";.'" u-k1c' y MONS 0 3 6 6 6 9 l