Document peR9KJezJ3v7NKG50x14RN32B

K_^ $d> =^5 iclA Approved 2/7/79 MEDIA'INQUIRIES . Q. Are the people of Sturgeon being banned by the smelly air? A. We have no data indicating that the atmospheric concentrations of o-chiorophenol crude in Sturgeon and the surrounding area are harmful either to humans or to domestic animals. The con centrations are far below toxic-levels. For example, the highest concentration in the air samples taken by Monsanto in the afternoon and evening of January 11 was 35 parts per billion. By contrast, the maximum permissible concentration in our manufacturing unit is 5,000 parts per billion, although we seldom exceed 1,000. o-Chlorophenol,can be detected at levels far below the level established by OSHA as being safe for longterm industriai exposure. Q. What about long-term effects such as cancer? h. We have operated the chlorcphenol unit at cur Sauget, 111. , plant for years and have seen no chronic toxicity problems among our workers. i ,JL more- C00444 Page 2 CJ- When will the smell go av;ay? A. That can't be answered with certainty. When the excavations have been completed and the area recovered, the odor will be very much less than it has been; but it may not disappear entirely for some time. The odor threshold for o-chlorophenol is very low, just a few parts per billion in air. Since people vary in their ability to perceive odors, some may smell it and others may not. Q. Was- there any tetrachloro dioxin in the material spilled? A. We have never detected tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin in that product or any of our chlorophenols. Our reserve sample of this particular shipment has not been tested for this compound. Q. Have you found any dioxins? A. On one sample of three tested, we found 0.2 parts per million of the monochloro dixoin and 0.05 parts per million of the dichloro compound. These materials are much less toxic than the o-chlorophenol itself. Q. What is your ability to detect the tetrachloro dioxin? A. In crude o-chlorophenol we can detect 10-30 parts per billion, depending on the precise analytical conditions used. -oOo-