Document rBwm7E1q4krBmJY7N1B595aYG

Monsanto ' . . , __________ --, Monsanto Compcrty sob N'. Lindbergh Boulovard St. Louis. Missouri 631.66 Phone. (214) 694-1000 i , ......................................... .........ORGANIC CHCMiCALL August 14, 1970 Dear Sir: You have received our letters of February 27, 1970 and June 1, 1970 covering Monsanto's withdrawal of poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the market. The February 27 letter reviewed some of the potential hazards of PCBs and of environmental polution in general. The June 1 letter announced that we were withdrawing all poly chlorinated biphenyls used as plasticizers or modifiers from the market, and that the last shipment of these materials would be made August 30, 1970. In as much as you may have some inventory of these materials which you might be planning to use during the period in which you change, over to other products, we felt it impera tive to inform you of the latest information concerning PCBs. It was recently brought to our attention that the Food and Drug Administration has apparently established guidelines setting forth suggested maximum levels of PCBs allowable in certain foods. These levels, as we understand them, are 5 parts per million In fish and 0.2 parts per million in milk. Monsanto, therefore, strongly recommends that PCBs not be used in applications which could lead, either directly or indirectly, to the contamination of food and water supplies for humans or animals. Examples of applications which would seem particularly hazardous would be coatings for water treatment facilities, coatings for food handling equipment, or coatings for such farm items as silos and feed hoppers. . DSW 338230 STLCOPCB4082064 It has recently come to our attention that PCBs have been found in cows milk. This adds emphasis to Monsanto's re commendation that PCBs not be used in any application where they might come in contact with or otherwise contaminate food, silage, water supplies, etc. The latest available bulletin on our line of Aroclors is enclosed for your use. This publication replaces and supercedes bulletin 0/PL-306 - Aroclor Plasticizers. The only products listed which will be sold after August 31> 1970 are l) Aroclor 1221, a monochlorinated biphenyl which is readily biodegradable, and 2) . Aroclors 5^+2 and 5^60, both chlorinated terphenyls which have not shown themselves to be environmental contaminants. Please pay special atten tion to the section of this bulletin which relates to environmental hazards. \ In addition to the products listed above which will remain on the market, Monsanto will sell a series of blends of Aroclor 1221 and Aroclor 5^60 which will replace the poly chlorinated biphenyls for many applications. During this withdrawal of PCBs from the market, Monsanto has had in effect a modified returned goods policy stating that unopened containers less than one year old could be returned for full credit through July 31j 1970* From . August 1 through August 31j 1970, 90 percent credit would be allowed. From September 1 through December 31* 1970, 50 percent credit would be allowed. The customer will pay all return freight. All of the dates in the time schedule for this returned goods policy are hereby extended an additional two months. . Monsanto realizes that the removal of these products from the market has caused a great deal of concern and expense for our customers. This is certainly regrettable. However,it appears to us that as a responsible supplier, this is the only reasonable course of action. We stand ready to assist you as we can with your reformulation work. /dbw DSW 338231 Director of Sales Plasticizers STLCOPCB4082065