Document pZez070VxJJzg0Lyoej25Dow

Pyij Levels Devs ft Bn Lake Michigan Fish Noteworthy decreases in levels -Of. after a.1968 accident in which PCBs were PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) In leaked into rice oil. Some 1J200 persons Lake Michigan coho salmon have been fell ill after eating the contaminated shown, for the first time since monitor foodstuff ing began five years ago, reports the The U.S. Food and Drug Administra Department of Natural Resources. tion has established 5 ppm as the maxi "This could mean our efforts are pay mum allowable concentration of PCBs in ing off. that PCBs are on their way out," foodstuff to be sold for human consump says DNR Environmental Protection Bu tion. reau Chief William Turney. Although the PCB problem is far from The source of Turney's optimism is a Michigan's alone, this state was among September U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the first to identify it and take steps to report that pegs PCB levels in adult sal solve it, Turney says. mon taken last fall from east-central The DNR, with strong support from Lake Michigan at 9.21 parts per million Governor Milliken and the Michigan (ppm), compared to 10.77 ppm mea legislature, has played a key roic in the sured in a similar catch from the same drive to rid the environment of PCBs, area in 1975. which arc extremely persistent in the Based on data gathered by the U.S. food chain. That role has included in Fish and Wildlife Service Great Lakes tensified monitoring and analysis to de Fish Laboratory in Ann Arbor, the report termine the extent of PCB contamination also lists PCB level declines in Lake and implementation of control programs Michigan chubs and lake trout. However, that have virtually halted PCB losses the only statistically significant, thus from major industrial and commercial most meaningful, decrease was that sources. noted in coho, says John Hesse. Chief of "Perhaps our efforts are being re the DNR's Toxic Materials Section. warded," says Turney, referring to the we voluntary restrictions on the report's conclusions. "Pwhnir; the days sale of l'CBs in 1971. chemicals of this group were commonly used to absorb limit ennsuiuDtion of Great Lake* fish heat in capacitors, transformers and hy will come sooner than we've imagined." draulic fluids, and as plasticizers or addi Many state*, including Michigan, have tives in carbonless reproduction papers advised sport fishermen to limit con Vr iuntary PCB sales restrictions came sumption of PCB-contnminnied fish such irom Monsanto. Inc., the sole lJ.S. man7 as Great Lakes salmon, lake trout, steel ffTTicmrer, niter was clearly established head and brown trout to no more than that PCBs posed a health hazard to hu- one meal per week, and have advised 'mans ana animats. women of child-bearing age not to con Among the first creatures to show ill sume these fish at all. effects were Great Lakes fish-rating Two other developments that should birds such as herring gulls and terns, help are Michigan's new PCB law, Act many of which died after eating PCB- 60 of 1976, which took effect April I, 1977. contaminated fish. It essentially prohibits the manufacture, "In Michigan, we found PCBs in the sale or use of PCBs in Michigan for all brains of dying gulls in concentrations as applications other than in transformer- high as 2,600 ppm." says Hesse, "which and capacitors, "closed systems." as is 10 times what wildlife researchers they are called. view as n lethal concentration." Fish ac Also the recent Mn.rauto doct-ion to cumulate PCBs in fatty tissue, some fiait~aTfl PCB distribution permanently u~ times #to the point where they contain October is looked upon hvor.iMy lo VCH levels thousands of limes higher shite"anil Teflcn'iluliiciaL. ami is ov MICHIGAN PRESS than the water In which they swim. PdCleci ta-TOKinenmib legislative man REAOING SERVIC. E__ Also stricken with PCB poisoning have date. Meanwhile, this mouth's Fi-h an P.O.BoxU,WMliamtton.Mich. 46695 hern mink at Michigan ranches, where Wildlife Service report also notes a con the animals died or had reproduction tinued decline in DIM' concentrations SAGINAW, Ml PRESS problem* after being fed Great Lakes among the east-eenlrat Lake Michigan salmon. Testing litis, researchers have salmon and among chubs ami lake trout induced reproductive failure in mink' by caught off Sntig.itiick. W-1,399 adding relatively low concentrations of And, the report lists a decline from lTBs to their normal diet. past years in mercury levels measured All hough there is no record of negative in Lake St. Clair walleyes. OCT-1 4-^7 human health etl'iMs'fmm consumption "Me'd like to liehcvo these web nine ol ITU; in this eivmliy. Hesse say re-alls are from mine i.i mn j>.i i <l sin h eMeils were clearly shown in Japan Tmw> wi M0NS 000238