Document n9oBY2QkDG1o10jzwpO77K0d1
IT., Nature of the Prcbles 5 eeeroh-2sd-oedloa>-inpfc
T. Sffect on Monsanto
71. Sffect on Customer
722. Involvement with other producers
Sources of Contamination A. Indirec
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Recent technical changes which have bearing an the contamination
2. Courses of Action
Recommended Coarse of Action
Imp 1ernestail on of the Reeosnended Course of Action
A. Innediate Action (12-1-69) 3. t e r l a 1-3 eonths
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C. Short term - j-6 eonths D. Lang tera (1-3 years)
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1. 'Beaeareh eedical -:Manufacturing
Patent. - S. ' gnelrcnmental Control-- **
; 3- Engineering * ; A. Marieet
T. Legal 1 , 1 1 - Public Relations 9. Others
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Ca 15 October the 9XD HOC" Cosnittee consisting of Messrs. M.
' Farrar, ?. Hodges, S. Jobs, V. Richard* and 5. Wheeler issued j` a report sunsarizing the polychlorinated biphenyl (?C3)
pollution probless frca the laown available inforsation to i ' date. Out of this report ease considerable lnforsatlon*
.conclusions* and recosaendatlsns which we have attempted to i. tie together Into a plan of action In this document. Our -
objective has been to take a reasonable and responsible approach to the entire problen. Before we get into the ( 'problem, we should clarify the meaning of ?CB, the nature of the entire line* and hew these tie into our product line of Aroelors.
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Monsanto entered the Aroclor market in 1930 by acquiring Swain
vent oat of Anniston Alabama to (S' in 1 9 3 1 / ^Since that tine the
- -- -------- -------------- -- -- market bis grown to 170 to 20!(varldNlde
Chemical Biphenyl
Monsanto Product Line
Mature of Material at Aabient________
Solid
5r-- -Suhliaes-a
Monoehlorcbi phenyl
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Tricnloroeiphenyl -
ap C Quaterehlsrobiphenyl
iG Q 2 Pentachlorobipheayl
Aroclor 1221 Aroelor 1232 Aroclor 1242 Aroclor 1243 Aroclor 1254
this liquid (oil)
thin flush water.
oily type fluid material
Thicker - transmission oil
Beavy-Mclasses
Aroclor 1250 '
Thick - tar
Beptaehlorqbiphenyl
Aroclor 1262
7ery thick - liquis
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DecJbroSTphanyl
Aroclor 12 63 Aroelor 12715 .
Solid
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Santowas or terpfaenyi Solid
Aroclcr 5460 Solid
^ Oamage to the ecological system by contamination from polychlorinated
It*//
2 vl ttt-
biphenyl (PCS). ,
Sctensiveness
The problem involves the entire united States, Canada, and sections of
^ Europe especially the United Kingdom and Sweden, jls the Investigaticn
^ broadens other areas of Europe, Asia and Latin America will surely
become involved. Evidence of contamination have been shown l seme
of the very remote parts of the world. The Involvement could and most
likely will follow the LOT Investigations.
IT. Mature of the Problem Professors Widmark and Jensen of the institute of Analytical Chemistry at Stockholm, Sweden, In Hovember 19^5 * 'announced and confirmed findin:
w PCS In fish, birds, and eggs. Subsequent findings were made in 1967 -- Great Britain. In February 1969 Professor Slsebrcugh of the Universiof California published an article In the San Francisco Chronicle relaying- his findings of PCS in the environment of the United States. Monsanto confirmed the presence of PCS's in add-1969 and confirmed the adequacy of work by Vidmark and Jensen and others; truly, the PGS's are a worldwide ecolo logical problem.-
I Analysis Indicates the environmental presence of the 5
"'r' :.v' '''-; il Aroclor 1260. * We have strong indications that Aroclor 2242 cr at leas'
' l __ '__ _ .. part of it degrades biologically. Since the Aroclor 1242 contains arc; } 7* percent of the 5 chlorine biphenyl or higher we cannot rale out the
possibility that the observations Bay be a concentration affect of the .. higher chlorinated biphenyls of Aroclor 1242. [
To date there have been no reports of finding Aroclor 1242 present in
| the environment (except outside the effluent of our plants where we kr. * Aroclor 1242 is present).
The seriousness of the probles can best be spelled out as follows:
1. ?ish - Marine or aquatic species concentrate ?C3 In the fatty
tissue. Toxic is small quantities (down to 5 ppi) to sensitive =a
life such as shrimp.
2. Birds - Predatory species feeding os the marine or aquatic life ca
further concentrate PCS to possible harmful effects. Specifically
in birds PCS can affect the calcium metabolism leading to egg she!
imperfections which prevents proper hatch of' the young. In fact,
Monsanto has confirmed the eggshell by feeding chickens, a high
order of the speeles, PCS's in controlled tests.
3. Man - 'Ttert is no harmful effect known to man or other mammals a_f*
40 years of production. Investigations are underway by various
sources.
STR 0219*3
4. Political and Public Section - ?C3*s are falsely t-**** with DDT
because ?C3rs show up In the analysis for SOS. PCS(s are linked
other permanent type chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides. This
becomes particularly serious since about every article, of food In
country is being examined for a trace of these materials.
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V. 'Iffect on Monsanto
.^^Business potential at states an % weCLdvi^e basis:
'I#^-F,l-u;ids
Plasticisers
Tstal/Tear
-7Cr lbs,
$165T
*6-Sff a.?.
lb s .
*ar V $2-3ir G.P.
10W lb s. $22K $S-UST G .F .
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Already competition is using certain data against us in competitive
situations.
A. Legal liability
Direct lawsuits are possible. The materials are already present in
nature having done their "alleged damage". All customers using the:
products have not b e officially notified about known effects ncr
our labels carry this information. These are only a few of the
possible legal implications which would best be covered by the
legal department.
B. Public Image
The corporate image of Monsanto as a responsible member of the
business world genuinely concerned with the welfare of our environ
ment will be adversely affected with increased publicity.
The evidence proving the persistence of these compounds and their
universal presence as residues la the environment is beyond
questioning. This combined with certain scare publications is cert
to give an adverse image. Guilty^association (with BET) will pre
vail as the background while actual' facts may be sparse.
Customer Helatlons
STR 02l***
Some customers who presently use these materials will be "seared of
to other competitive products. Products associated with the same
name or "trademark"'will be adversely affected le., Thermlnol.....
Pydraul and Aroclor. Competitors will use the information for-an
Influence on Monsanto products. . . .
Customers id.11 seek other "outs'* rather than become involved. Effect on Customers and Ultimate Ccrsusnrs 'one of the unique* features of ?C3*s is their fire resistance. Here the basic decision whether to risk lives due to fire or risk extinction of, some species of birds. Is this case the ?C3 would probably be accepted as a necessary pollutant and tolerated under controller conditions.
A. Zlectrical Industry - Capacitors and Transformers use Aroclsr because it is the best inexpensive dielectric fluid available.
B. Pood Processing - Bulk "deep frying" units for potato chips, fish, and doughnuts use the fire resistance fluid as an indirect heating medium
C. Die Caster ~ and other hot metal working industries fire resistanc fluids to protect the worker^
Affects a wide range of plasties and adhesives because the ?C3 serves as'the plasticiser.
A wide-range-of paints and coatings are affected. The "Carbonless" carbon paper used so widely would disappear. Involvement With Other Producers Although Monsanto is most probably responsible for the U.S. ccntamlnat: aad Jointly responsible with MCL for .the 'Ohited Kingdom problem, we cannot accept responsibility for the world. There are five laown producers in the free world, several possible producers behind the ire: curtain and couple of additional companies maiding overtures about entering the business. Monsanto representatives have an one occasion discussed .this-problem, with a couple of these producers but. they ... . . expressed no great concern. In fast, it is highly possible that one c
these manufacturers is dumping his waste into the Hhine River. Cert*
ay actios takes by on* producer will seat1.assurkily afftet the other
^ is-
tfest
plan of actios could be develcpe
hot will seat probably have to be spearheaded by Hensaato.- It is als
"likely that producers of other chlorinated products used with ?C2's
will be dragged late the investigation. *
Sources ot Contamination
Although there say be scae sail and air contamination involved, by fa; the sest critical prob lea at present is water contamination. To our knowledge to date the contamination can be broken down into two geners .categories, open and indirect pollution. A. Open Pollution - Cur gangfaetaring facilities sewered a sizeable
quantity of ?CS's in a years tine. 1. Plaids
Plaids are probably the bo at open scarce of pollutics because their sobility. They also say be the least serlocs because th are generally the lower ehlcrlsated materials 2. Slectrical Slectrical customers have ia the past sewered their wastes. 3* Seat transfer Seat transfer customers have sewered their objectionable a n d . their spilled material. 4. -Industrial These fluids have generally been sprayed late drains, washed down sewers and generally regarded as very harmless. All of the fluids have had the a|isk" constituent damped on dirt roads dedusting agent* which inadvertently found Its way back to the stream.
these manuf acturers is dumping his waste into the Rhine River. Certain la y a c tio n ta ke n fey one preducw r * 1 1 1 sso st iL s a u re d ly a r r e s t th e .e th e r..
It i* rtirely possible th-t n* Jwliit plan or action could be developed
but will nest probably have to be spearheaded by Monsanto.- jt is also .'likely that producers of other chlorinated preduets used with ?C3's will be dragged into the investigation. *
Sources of Contamination
Although there nay be scae soil and air contamination involved, by far
the aest critical problea at present is water contaaination. To our
knowledge to date the contamination can be broken down into two general
.eategcries, open and indirect pollution.
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A. Open pollution - Cur manufacturing facilities sewered a sineahle
quantity of PCS's in a years time.
1. Fluids
Fluids are probably the aost open source of pollution because c
their mobility. They also say be the least serious because the
are generally the lower chlorinated materials.
2. Slectrital
31ec epical customers have in the past sewered their wastes.
3 Heat Transfer
Heat transf er customers have sewered their objectionable and
their spilled material.
A. -Industrial
Ciese fluids have generally been sprayed into drains, washed
down sewers and generally regarded as very harmless.
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All of the fluids have had the *^iak* constituent dumped on dirt reads
dedusting agent" which inadvertently found Its way back to the stream.
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5. Plastics
j-i ** * have aot found and cannot find their way back to streams in c pollution.
B . Indirect
Shipping containers and the cleaning, thereof for subsequent use a source cf contamination!
1 Fluids
a. Slectrical - Disposal of "burned out1* transformer and
capacitors nay find its nay back to streams. Scrap units
(new) are generally disposed of ia
fills but eould
possibly get back to the stress.
b. Seat Transfer - Leaks eould contaminate.
e. Industrial - Cress product contamination carried cut of a
air compressor. Residual material carried os parts.
Plasticisers
a. Process Contamination frea Washing
(1.) Environment Contamination
Swimming pool paints
Incineration of waz coati
Traffic paints (2.) ,Product Contamination
STR 021949
Coating for tank lining
inks aad paper coatings
adhesives
IX. Recent Technical Changes Which Save Bearing on the Contamination
A. Fluids - The sources of pollution were pointed cut as they have been in tr
past because we are dealing with that cuantitv oi* material in ths