Document nBez2GzR68KMJwbQ5o6NdoLm

Suggested Letter of Inquiry Relative to Uses of PCB's. Carlos Fetterolf Mich. Bur. Water Mgt. Dear The nature of your business leads us to suspect you may have losses of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) to the environment. As you probably know, current research In many parts of the world Indicates that PCB's (X may bo as Important as DDT In the environment as^toxlcant causing signi ficant physiological Imbalances, especially In reproductive processes, llko DDT, PCB's contain chlorine, hydrog. en, and carbon, 4 are virtually Insoluble In water but soluble In fat, are extremely persistent, In fish - /V~ and blrds'accumulate through food chains;, aTTd^are found worldwide. PCB's have a wide variety of uses because of their unique properties such as low volatility, adhesion, and resistance to fire, chemicals, oxidation,' and hydrolysis. They are Included In many products and formu lations such as electrical Insulation, fire-resistant heat transfer and hydraulic fluids, lubricants for use a_t high temperatures and pressures, sealants and expansion media, natural and synthetic rubber, floor tile, printer's Ink, coatings for paper and fabrics, brake linings, paints, varnishes, waxes, asphalt, adhesives, resins, elastomers, and pigments. Brand names of products containing polychlorinated biphenyls are: American made . ' Arochlor 1100 series ... 1200 series , kOOO series Thormlnal Chlorextol FR series MONS 08980 7 -2- Dykanol Interteen . . Noflamol ^ Pydraul , Pyranol Foreign made Clophcn Fenchlor ' Kanncchlor Pyralene Sovol While you may not bo using any of the above products directly you may bo using products containing them as additives. PCB's have been found In Lake Michigan water, sediments, fish and birds. The Federal-Interstate Conferees on Pollution of Lake Michigan and Its Tributary Basin recognised the Importance of each State inventorying the use of and possible losses of PCB's In the Lake Michigan Basin and have skod us to Initiate the following questionnaire survey. Your response by mall will save the necessity of having a staff member call on you for an on-site Investigation. It Is not our Intent at present to ban the use of these materials, but we must become knowledgeable of possible sources to the environment. Please answer the attached questions. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation In this matter. Yours truly, Ralph W. Purdy, Deputy Director Bureau of Water Management ' MONS 089808