Document qd7dwErkvL6Lrx89o54B8adRk

PRESS QUERY toO Divisional ( ) Financial ( ) Corporate Date 7/23/71 Time 3 p.m. ( ) New York Textiles Public Relatio ( ) West Coast Public Relations ( ) Brussels Public Relations (X) Lloyd R. Cole cc: J. R. Eck P. S. Park R. J. Kotno W. B. Papageorge E. P. Wheeler J. P. Orr H. S. Bergen J. J. Spano C. J. Smith M. L. Sutherland QUERIED BY: (REPORTER AND MEDIA) David Wallace, Associated Press, Washington QUERY: - QUERY: ANSWER: The United States Department of Agriculture today issued a news release saying that they were investigating the possible contamination of chickens and chicken feed in the southeast U.S. Since Monsanto is the sole U.S. producer of PCB, I would like to ask you a few questions. What is PCB? PCB is the short form for the chemical polychlorinated biphenyl. QUERY: ANSWER: How Is it used? It was first developed for use as a cooling and insulating fluid in electrical equipment. This is still its primary use, as well as in heating transfer systems. QUERY: ANSWER: When was it developed? In the the early 1930s QUERY: ANSWER I understand Monsanto has had a control program under way. Yes. When PCB was first identified in the environment, Monsanto DSVJ 255545 -more- STLCOPCB4061165 2- - QUERY: ANSWER: QUERY: ANSWER QUERY: ANSWER undertook a program to control its end uses. One step of this program consisted of restricting sales -- eliminating "open systems." An open system can be described as a sealant adhesives, specialty paints, chlorinated rubber, etc. We no longer sell for these uses. Could you describe PCB's toxicity? The problem with PCB is not its toxicity -- since comparatively it is a low level toxic subtance.-- but its persistence and possible build-up in the environment. This is what prompted ^ our environmental control program. Since 1968, our prgram has consisted of the following: ^ identification and measurement of PCB in the environment; tightening up our manufacturing processes; looking for substitue products; biodegradable studies; animal feed studies; restricted sales and ultimate disposal of old material. Recently, Ralph Nader reported an incident of PCB contamination in Japan. Suposedly, 10,000 people were effected. Are you familiar with this incident? It occurred in late 1968. Original reports said 14,000 people were allegedly effected. Subsequent investigations by a Kyusa University team working for the Ministry of Health and Welfare reported that possibly 600 people had been exposed. Of these 178 had diagnosed cases and 111 had suspected cases. A majority of the cases were diagnosed as dermatological, i.e., acne and skin rash. The contaminated rice oil was reported to have contained 2,000 to 3,000 parts per million PCB. Did your medical people say anything about still births or organ damage. . No. SOURCE OF ANSWER (List All Sources) Files/Dr. R. E. Kelly NAME (Staffer Handling Query) E. V. John DSW 255546 STLCOPCB4061166