Document mBj4740m0B8jMakG6NkvVDa6g

1 6>t. Stmtlu Inltr-Ormmrat D. 306,586 SUN, 31S.D01 JUL 21 1970 Safety Laws Cal For PCB Use, Monsanto Says j The Monsanto Co., which last, week announced it would con-, tinue selling the controversial chemical polychlorinated b i- phenyl (PCB), called a majorj pollution threat, pointed out', Monday (hat public safety laws throughout the country require* use of PCB in certain electric, power equipment. ; "Earlier transformer coolants often exploded and burned,. causing numerous deaths and injuries," Howard L. Mincklcr., company vice president and, general manager of the organic chemicals division, said. ! IN ADDITION, he said, there are no available substitutes! which equal the safety perform-! ance of PCB in power-transmis sion equipment. j "A return to use of combust!-, ble oil products would be s re-, treat to practices of the 1930s and an unnecessary threat to human life," Mtnckler said. j "Monsanto has voluntarily! taken action to restrict use ofj this product and to prevent fur * ther environmental exposure. We believe this is the best ap l proach we can take until a re placement for PCB is found b> | i our research people." j I HEAVY EXPOSURE of he ! man beings to PCB can cause1 ' liver and kidney diseases,. am1, even death, according toEn\i | ronment mafc.'r.mc. j Commenting on * recent r<% port that PCB can induce birth, defecis i n animals, Mmcfclc said, "Monsrtnto is not aware m any scifniific d'tia that inrl- ea'es polychlorinated btphe - n-iv r-, H. h-rlli il.lr1 ` HONS 030431 CDiUmiA, HO, MISSOURI/^ D, 5,000 JUl 1 5 1970 <%! L_ _ _ _ _ . Company Limits Sale of Chemical i] WASHINGTON, My M - tinue to manufacture thet The manufacturer of an In chemical for use as a coolant in dustrial chemical called PCB electrical transformers because has decided to restrict sales of of Its "unique properties" and the chemical because of moun because its emission into the ting evidence that it can induce environment could be controlled birth defects in animals. in a "closed system" such ass The Monsanto Co. of St, Louis transformer. 3 said In a letter to Rep. William There has e been increasing F. Ryan, D-N.Y., that It would scientific reports to recent,, no longer sell PCB for use as a years that PCB was being found water .resistant plasticizer or as in fish, birds, fruits and even, in a hydraulic fluid. miniscule quantities. In human : In April, the company ashed mothers' milk. There i s | the Department of Agriculture evidence that large doses af- , to prohibit the use of the fected the enzymes, and thus, > chemical in pesticides sex hormones, in certain Monsanto said it would con- animals <1 HONS 030432