Document ren4Xr63NbONKqLxRv5nyqJLq

R0LLA, KO NEWS D. 6,000 SEP 3 1976 Monsanfo Refutes Cancer Claims ST. LOUIS (UPI) - Monsan ment. to Co. says so far It has found Roush emphasised the Mon no cases of either malignant santo study is incomplete and melanoma or cancer of the findings are tentative. pancreas among current or He also said the review found former employes who work a higher incidence of lung with polychlorinated biphenyls, cancer among employes in the bettern known as PCBs. PCB unit than the average The company said Thursday according to National Cancer It plans to continue (or 12 to 18 Institute statistics. months Its study of the health However, Roush said, "to records of employes at Us date, the evidence developed Sauget, SI., manufacturing from this preliminary study plant. Records of more than 300 would suggest that the cases of employes have been checked so lung cancer are not PCB dose*, far. response related." The review was prompted by Monsanto, the only U.B. a recent Mobil Oil Corp. study manufacturer of PCBs, an that reported three cases of nounced in January it will malignant melanoma, which Is phase out production of the a cancerous tumor, and two chemical, traces of which have cases of pancreatic cancer been found In every major among 72 employes who han waterway in the nation. The dled electrical Insulating fluids House of Representatives last containing PCB at a Mobil month voted to ban production plant in New Jersey. of PCBs within two years. ,. "The fact that we have found no cases of either of these cancers casta strong doubt that the findings of -the Mobil study were in fact related to PCB," said Dr. George Roush, director of Monsanto's medical and environmental health depart MONS 035200