Document v19dOqenVx8LVmydrdZLNpG4b

1 t. B. Ppgorge DAIE-; NOVEMBER 24, 1971 SUBJECT: POLLUTION IS EVERYONE'S PROBLEM From the publicity being given to PCBs one might get the Impres sion that pollution was almost the. sole result qC Monsanto's product line. (Jet rid of Aroclorand Thermlnolfluids and the problem would be solved. In heat transfer fluids Dow (our major competitor) has been fairly busy at our Thermlnol m customers trying to convert them to Dowtherm rather than Thermlnol 55 or 66. In fact some Dow salesmen have got a little bit carried away by the occasion. We've heard stories that Dow claim Monsanto Is out of the Thermlnol business and that we have precious little Indus trial experience with Thermlnol 66. Both stories are far from the truth. It was therefore with some surprise that we read In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on November 18 that diphenyl oxide heat transfer fluid (of which Dow is the only U.S. manufacturer) had contaminated drinking water In a local community. The point that must be made to all customers Is that heat transfer leaks can lead to environ mental pollution whatever fluid Is used. To emphasise that view Chemical Week of November 24, 1971 has an article on a Senate Bill (S-2770) that sets zero water pollution from industry and muni cipalities by 1985. The chances are that this bill will be passed by both Senate and House. Singling out Monsanto as the scape-goat and getting mad at us for converting our Thermlnol FR line to Thermlnol 55 and 66 gets no one anywhere. We are sure they are probably as busy now at Mid land as we have been. Thermlnol 55 and 66 do not contain diphenyl ether. . P.S. Please use my own write-up discreetly. Do not xerox It for customer distribution. Attachments HONS 071430 Monsanto IWater's Taste Traced To A Leak' ,, If ;X" The source of me rd-ustirs mid. xir,.iv M- '<!iihi ha* Us on caused no rcniftenni eubitc l tap water in toulh St. Louis County hit been traced by the County Health Department to a teak In a chemical line at the Ashland Chemical Co. plant in Valley Park. William Starkey, plant manaper, when reached at a aata convention in Columbus. 0.. re water system: the supply comes from t'-.e Nierair.ee. A spokesman for the environ mental division of the County Heilth Department said the chemical compound was found to be biphenvl^ethej. He said it we* WralTaTteat exchange material at the plant. Third Street and St Louis Avenue.. health problems. In small con- cemraiions. it is not harmful.*' ' "The quality of the water be ing produced by ;h St. Louis County Water Co. meets all public health standards for drinking," Mitchell Mid. He said the chemical plant v t* shut Immediately after the leak was discovered* ! futed to lay Tthai the pLc.t manufactures or what caused the leak or what th "tb*:snre was that leaked i",to the Mere- "The maitml," said H. Clif ford Mitchell, assistant commis sioner of em ironmental health. However, officers at the pl uft refused to My whether c-peralions had been resumed. > mec River. The Mernmec it the water source tor aouth county resident*. Jon L. Tueoker, vice pri- dent of production of the St. Loui* Water Co., said the com pany had !n>.md a treatment to remove the substaoee hit Tuesday and consumers should not be bothered with the bad tanta any )>mner. The taste wet find reanrtedl iVnm Kir'-'.wood 'nr T tir*d.iy I nd the problem reach*\l act * ptak Tuesday mumir.fi, luc^ker j I HONS 071*31