Document vVQJrpZJpN9d9jKn2dYmM3pwq
Chemical wcrid This Week
tic&JJy everybody." These ceils re* nation of direct fuel injection (no
fleet the genetics of the person from carburetor), extended spark plug PCB CONTAMINATION:
whom the blood was obtained. Dr. Moore points out, and arc thus
'`very, very valuable for studying patients with abnormal genetic
electrodes, and a specially shaped
combustion chamber results in a
ttratified-chargc combustion proc
ess--"programed
combustion,"
Task force Investigation
An interdepartmental tusk force has been set up in the Federal Govern
backgrounds such as any of the Ford calls it--that enables the en ment to coordinate a government children with metabolic disorders. gine to run satisfactorily on 91- to wide investigation into contamina
You can slso grow the cells from 94-octane unleaded fuel despite its tion by polychlorinated biphenyls
people with abnormal chromosome high compression ratio.
(PCB) of food and other products.
constitutions," such as those men With exhaust gas recirculation The action, according to the Food
with the XYY syndrome. But the lymphocytes can't be used
directly for treating transplant pa tients. The lymphocytes must be
(EGR), thermal reactor, and cata lytic afterburner added, the engine
had satisfactorily low emission leveis for hydrocarbons and carbon
and Drug Administration, is aimed at ensuring effective coordination of government response to specific and pr eventable PCB contamination
injected into horses, and the anti monoxide, but NO, levels were still and at developing "a long-range lymphocyte globulins harvested well above 1976 requirements. strategy for coordinating scientific
from the horses' blood streams.
These globulins are then used to keep the patient's lymphocytes in check. Dr. Moore says, so that they do not destroy the transplanted or
Then Ford engineers improved the EGR system and redesigned the fuel metering system to maintain a near ideal combustion mixture regard less of atmospheric conditions or
resources to better define the PCB problem and its possibla implica tions for human health." FDA says that on the basis of current scien
tific knowledge, there is no immi
gan. Without the lymphocytes from the "factory," however, the whole process would be far more difficult.
engine r.p.m/s. Ford's tests
showed that these changes had re duced NO, emissions,to a level ap proximating the 1976 standard.
nent threat to the safety of food or to public health from PCB's.
The PCB task force, which will be coordinated through the Office
AUTO EMISSIONS:
Ford has clean angina
The Environmental Protection Agency has singied out a Ford Motor Co.-developed internal com bustion cinginc as being potentially capable of meeting 1976 standards for vehicle emissions--including ni trogen oxides. Ford Itself is con siderably more modest. The engine has promise, the auto firm says, but it also has problems, especially problems of durability.
The engine--designed for the
Army's i/4-ton trucks--is a fourcylinder, 72-h.p. piston engine with an 12:1 compression ratio. Combi
EPA is now running its own tests of Science and Technology and the
of the engine. If its findings con Council on Environmental Quality,
firm Ford's, the agency may welt of includes representatives from the
fer them as evidence that the 1976 Environmental Protection Agency,
standards are indeed attainable, de FDA, National Institute of Environ
spite auto makers' protests to the mental Health Sciences, and Agri
contrary.
culture Department. It was set up
Ford counters that getting satis at a meeting on Sept. 1, called by
factory emission levels from hand- FDA to share information gathered
built, highly tuned engines running by FDA and USDA on PCB's. The
on a test stand is one thing, but 1 agencies have been conducting fol
getting the same results from pro lowup investigations of "industrial
duction engines running 50,000 incidents," which FDA says have re
miles on the road is something else ; sulted in low-level PCB adulteration
again. However, two Ford V-8 en of some food products. An FDA
gines have been converted to | spokesman says that information
j"proco" operation and currently are from the industrial accidents
undergoing tests.
coupled with information gleaned
from other investigations "indicated
to us that there might be a poten
Low-cost rockot torch
A rocket motor has been turned back wards to become an eWdent culling torch tor eisel and other metals--per haps the tlret use of a rocket tor other
than propulsion--by United Technology Conter, Sunnyvale, Calif. The email (IT1/,
Inches tong) and lightweight (6V pounds) torch hoe a Home temperature of about 5600* P. It uooe a solid fuel--hollow pofymethyf methacrylate rods--wHh a pro
prietary solid oxidizer, modified chlorate
candle. United Technology, will market the loroh for S2S to 510 each to police, fire deportments, and Industry tor such usee aa quick extrication of victims from auto wroeks (see photo). The torch le a spinoil from work on hybrid rocket motors us ing the same fuel and Nqukf nlirle aokf oxidizer.
tial problem that would require
more than FDA involvement." He adds that the first chore of the PCB task force will be to check segments
of Government and industry to find out what's known about PCB's.
Monsanto, the only domestic pro ducer of PCB's, says that the Gov
ernment's task force approach to the PCB environmental issue is "most appropriate" and that "the company stands ready to continue
its support of and cooperation wilh these agencies. At the same time," a company spokesman says, "we be lieve our three-year-old program to
control uses and escape of PCB is correct and that it will supplement the agency's effort." He adds that the company's program to control usage includes selling PCB's only
for use in closed systems. .
Osin airr. it. ieri
HONS 031938