Document wQJYNozLYw3aV4pQm09oD1DD

ir en`G By Stuart Diamond Ntwtdnv Sifvltt New York, NY. -- In the snow* of Antarcti ca, In fish tnit n d.niv by millions, in I lie mill* of nursing mollierv, (lie Iomc pollutant PC.B 1$ Showing up in mm jsiiiE coiicctutjiioiis. I irsl mart tied m 1 *jJ9. me chiirucjl's harm ful propcriies ri'd not become widely known unlit the tntd-iaoos. afier million: of pounds wore In use in such ever) day products us point and refrigerators Now, research Indicates that large doses of the clear, oily fluid cuu-c skin lesions in humans and produce cancer, genetic damage and death in test animals The US Environmental Protection Agency this year banned PCD production, effective In I97D. The 1`ood end Drug Administration has proposed a strict limit on PCD level* in fish, the chemical's principal pathway to humans. All this may be mo late. Pelts (polychlori nated blphcnvis) have Invaded livirg creatures throughout the world Thev have been (ottnd in the air, in soil and in rtv er sediments. More than D0% of all Americans have it In their trcuos. ntcordm,' to CPA studio* And 5% of the pnpul itiun has ITU levels that exceed the pnipO'.i-d (-iiidcliurs (or contaminated fish "It K an uliciiniuiis contaminant, as bad ns 1)1)1 ever was." *ijs Joseph llijibnd, a bio chemist for the Environmental Defense Fund. The Washington based orgaiu/atinii begin Commercial and recreation /nhcimen await a decision on new m/muium allowable 1`Ci! lev* rfs lor Lake Michigan fish; story on Page 1, Discover. , prodding the federal government four years ago to control the material. Elizabeth Campbell, the FDA chemist who wrote new standards to limit consumption of the material sharply, agrees. "PQis may be the chemical Scare of the '7(N." she said. . Although virtually ril experts tgrae that PClls pose a significant environmental threat, the issue is complicated by the fact that few adverse health effects hjve been noicd m mans The only major inv.'iiie i>( human 5>U from PCUs oc<uirrd nine years ai-n in i after in accidental contamination ul r with the chemical, 'ih.it inntamtna.i m ,d' 1,200 people, cnustd a number of serin, nesses and, some firvc deaths 'ii.i'IT1 cs, however, w<_rc In concentrations up in i times the levels found in contaminated fish Japan banned J'Clts In 1973. Occupational n.nnsures in the last f,\r , adcs have prod..cid clu mieat concentrate PCBs in humans dozens of limes hv.l'er '' the contaminat'd fish Stitt, few advice . I, have been noted. "What docs this mean' It doesn't ncccmean that PCils have no long term elf. aald Frank Curdle, a PCU expert fnr ihr : *'Wc know nothing about the long term rf! We haven't seen any because we h. v looked." Many scientists believe it is just a man- Turn to POli, page 6, rot t I t t l HONS 206023 PCBs TT7 'T'f r *1i. --^ '<*** '-v-** w- <s/ from Ptpt 1 lime until human ailments arc documenttd This year PCBs were found lor I he lird time m embryonic fluid sui rounding developing human fetuses, in concentrations several tunes above the allowable sale limits 'Whenever you look yon arc going to find it," said Thomas Kopp of the T.PA's Of lice of toxic substances The results of a ns in tl testing arc alarming Kor a year and a had, lb female monkeys were led food contaminated with i'C u in ronccniraiionx similar lo those found in fish caught of! Long Island and elsewhere When the monkevs mated, seven miscarried Two did not conceive at all Uterine growths were recorded The monkevs developed facial sores and swollen eyelids and lost llicsr hair. All offspring were undersired and contained detectable levels of PCB Evidence Cited The Infants then were breast fed They developed the same symptoms as Ihcir mothers Within four months, hail died. The EPA Is sufficiently convinced by such evidence to state thal It has been demonstrated conclusiv ely that PCBs arc toxic lo humnns, fish and wildlife "Our methodologv (with human studies) is very crude.'1 said Dr. Blair Smith, researcher lor Hie National Institute of Occupational Solely and Health, who has examined workers for PCIl concentrations "But the animal studies Give very great cause lor concern " Last year the I.PA began testing the breast milk of Anieilcans. PCD was found in the milk of 78 ol the first 80 women "PCBs are practically in the hands of every American." . -EPA official tested. The levels averaged about half the lowest concentre* lions found In the monkeys, and about an eighth of the highest concentrations. That Study, by Dr J R. Allen, pathologist at the University of Wisconsin, is a principal reason whs the federal govern* menl is pirpnring to lower drastically (he allowable hunts of PC Us In fish. The new standard, expected to be enacted this vc.tr. is two p.n is of PC Us per million. The current standard is five parts per million r.ven Ihe proposed limit is not mrim for daily consumption, said Ms Campbell ol the I DA 1 We hgurc Hint lour |i h inrals per month at (hose tvvrls shuulri he ihe maximum, especially for women and children." she said ir* y i *4 ^! i - vw *. HONS 206024 I he nuiiMi mr rmuire* r mvh r>n mi- Iin inai Cr,,,orrn *rc \mnfiir ihtn jtl'UU jnd K It ! < m<`) 'eceivf ffi>m d ' * COntni<iul<fl liiii ari miti <1 I *f) i r |w r ju- v.| ,|.^t 1 Aii n.rjii i IfJil iiurMii*. ji rnkii|j|Pf ivrjs! for a ^csr couhl mi| t't wit i! 'Ml'iii* hi_i>r in a Jicde, iiji ||i^)iiand of lln h iviroiTi'fin il liifrusr mud Him turtl artiiil.il td On the fasl ( nv-i ortped Uri popular lor Imth eallng tad fimn Ikshin|, nrr *ukly tonUiniiuicri Scvrtil other ajmici are sficcita Pecrni Murtm Oiow that 'lie thetopeefcr Bay rn. I he large** bJ't N|*iwf.i ig ground, hat ] idJed striper egg* wiu uni*Jr I'CU comrnifJi .m* In tjt* Mif^unn t targe nroportien or rhe salmon and iro^i the hws lor i dcvclnp'rtc <)<,is Indutlr) In hi*lug an Wisconsin an found li> comsi* I'Ltt* in tees* 9t lie prati nj suntUrd ShoutA i!if` new limit f<rf fixh hr rntorrrd both commrrrlal and sport lninnr for Uuse specie* would he decimated iu the Crest i-aaet and off l>mg. lLind Hie promt mmtard hat rotrhrd atptranmn for romnwrifil lahe Michigan Itabing already Poljeljlnnruicd biphenyl*, first manufactured la )Mi, be long to a class of chemical* calk'd chlorinated hydroesrbois, which Include mon common pesticide* and solvent*. Some chlorinated hsrnrocarbont wh at DOT. Mire*. oteld- rtn oidnn and mchloiethvlene have been banned after taut* l*K cancer in test animal* Another vmvi chloride. Is known 10 can* cancer in humans In 192$. Monsanto Chemical Co of St Louis befan produelog PCU* commercially for um as an insulator to transform ers, capacitors and similar cquipmaM within a few years. PCBs became the fluid of choice in Ute ffeclrieal Industry Many Other Uses Numerous other uses were fouvd The chemicals were able to absorb and hold Urge amounts of heat to they were used in healing coils to hrai products in factories where open flames would be a hazard PCB* extend Lhe fife of caulking compound* around win. dows m skyacriprra Siote PCD* would not react wilb Inh. they prevented smears oa carbonless copy paper. In tba eke trie motors of reJngeralors, atr cciJdiuoner*. typewriters, power saws. ckHlivs washers and doers, dishntakers and furnace blow era. PCUs became common. About I t billion pounds of PCD# have burn produced la this country, tour perernt hat been destroy;d, II% is in the aim- I roomcot and I S% is under varying degracs of control ra land- i fins T3 rest la in billions of Items not yet discarded. Thousands of pounds have been discharged Into the water tack year by indiwries In addition, discarded appliances have Meed PCbs Into groundwater, incinerator* banting PCS lad en paper have spewed the chemical into the nr Recycled, one of tba paper has wound up as ceraat bait*, where the chemical can get Into IN food *TCB`i wert not Identified a* a contaminant until tba aid* IMOu. wbaa the technology was developed enough to meas ure It In the cnvuonincfH. ' said Smith el the Occupational bitty and Health institute In I IN, Sweathb scientists found PCB# in fish* Mrd feathers had human hair Two yean later, the accidental factory leak of PCDt Into cooking oil sickened 1,200 consumers m YusM. Japan. They suffered from awoJIen rants severe skin led*** and other > disorders. I Stillbirths Of the 11 contaminated women who betaine pregasm. (here were two uiLibirihi and Ji ff the 13 babtet were smaH* rf than national d-tmlards aciordlng to wientific papers, Up to Sept 13, I97J. 22 deaths had occurred among the }*200 victims Of lho*e, mne u ere from cancer* Mniggetilug a possible cictif mortality (from eanceU * according one In 1905, PCHi leaked from a factory near rnuanh. Ha. tonlamfnaunr rnantie orgaiKuns in Escambia Hay. Less (Has one part per tuition In the water killed half of the exposed .Shrimp wtlhln IRikitt )n 1973, thr KM set five parts per million as the safe limit permitted fn njibk lish t The sirkefithg crtnccnirstions that were consumed at Yu$h In the aceldmtal nmfjmtfultofl were 2.1MK> pons per mill but that was uor iHitrespuMire. nut a iont*nidng on*. St t la Prodncllva In 1971, Monsanto voluntarily UutTri producing PCB* for '`open" appin sflonx ciKh u< pamls uul since (he Yuabd h*d' drnt. Muns.ntni Njs t-rmlturJ mote than COO uriltat pouudi of IH Its IhuUMilds iif pounds have brew (fixhar^rd Nil* (hr rnvirtwritmt by iiKltisKin, lti*ueowum. Uism"*c* and oth* ert HONS 206825 minding sirict regulations But (tie government still has n r set minimum limns th.ti m.mv scientists consider sjfe (or , segments ol society in (tie consumption o( PCLt eonummutt^ fish. further, (here arc no regulations (0 prevent hundreds <' millions of pounds of (lie PUls now in use from getting inn the environment to cause more harm, Preparing Itcgululons In February, the federal government banned disehirges o PCBs Into the environinml as of Feb Z, 197A. Monsanto, il.nation's sole supplier of PCBs. has announced that it wtb cease making the chemical Oct 31. The EPA is preparing regulations for the safe disposal of the more than three-quarters of a billion pounds of I'CBs si ' in use It was supposed to enact regulations by July 1. but <' wasn't ready. Now rules are expected within two mouths The proposals pointedly exempt a large portion of PCB: front regulation because the agency doesn't know how to col lect the substance. "The CPA's proposed regulations arc atrocious -- an outra geous response to the problem,'' charges Highland of the Fnu ronmenta! Defense Fund "Hundreds of millions ol pounds m this stuff will wind up in the environment because the giw eminent Is unwilling to regulate It '' "Perplevlng Problem" After Highland's group sued in 1373, TPA tried to propose hmfts for nine chemicals but was overwhelmed by industry attorneys In 1974. After further court suits. Russell Train, in one of his fimi! actions as EPA administrator, signed Hie discharge ban Jan 1 -- more than four years after standards were mandated by Congress. Federal officials do not dispute Highland's comments ibtnii the dingers of PCBs. But they refuse to take the blame fur delays. ' "We have i very perplexing problem here." said CeorgiWirth. a chemical engineer whose unit wrote the dwpt.'i regulations. `'PCBs are practically hi Hie hands of every Amci lent. It Is the fsuft of the society is a whole that we did n<>. take better cart ol w hat wo have produced and done with tills chemical since Day One." tt U difficult or impossible lor the nonexpert to tril whether the chemical tt present tn a given product Usually ils pres ence Is nol labeled, and almost never as PCUs Monsanto s marketing name is Arochtor, but rCU has also been void as Chlorextol. Dyk.inol, Inertccn, Noflamot. Pyramol and liter mlnol. . Dispose) Planned The EpA'i proposed rcgirfntfons are aimed at locating itii'l disposing of two-thirds of the 750 million pounds believed 'lift HONS 206026 IAL Sunday. August 7, 1077 Tim l l ;hluv t W- . . -*v '.ia.*&***. - -is * Vi .. J --Journal Pttow PCB levels in fish are reducing commercial fishing in Lake Michigan. In use In 8.1 million Urge transfointers and high voltage ca pacitors used by utilities and major industries These are fairly well monitored and Inventoried by ihcir owners The EPA plans strict rules for the collection and dis posal of the items, first in approved landfills, and, after July 1. 1979, by incineration. That leaves about 250 millions pounds of PCDs dispersed in 895 million highway lights, In air conditioning motors, small appliances, fluorescent lights and many other products The EPA acknowledges that most of this may eventually wind up in the environment as appliances are discarded and "It 1$ an ubiquitous contaminant, as bad as DDT ever was." --Environments list leak, palnu erode and fish -- and people -- consume the resi due, Alt told. EPA says, 540 million pounds of the chemical would wind up In the environment, more than a third of the entire domestic production of 46 years Education Suggested The EPA suggests an educational program to encourage repair shops and commercial buildings to turn tn their PCU laden equipment when Ihe equipment is no longer useful over the next 20 to 30 years. How successful could that be' "How successful is the paper recycling pionriito in this country'" savs Kvpp of the l.PA "How successful were ilie attempts lo cul the use of gasoline' Not too successful,'1 Another Suggestion by Die agrnev Is lo pay people a "bourn ty" to turn In their PCD laden items A $2 bounty on each item, however, would mean a government outlay of SI E bil lion, not counting collection and advertising costs. Municipal sewage usually has PCBs in concentrations be. low 300 parts per million That, too will go unnguiaird i,iJcr the new guidelines. R"ccnt surveys have duciosrd nut ihr toxic chemical Is in a number of the nation s cewjge cirt jems, including some in Wisconsin, Incineration a Problem Discharges from plants that recycle paper often cout.un PCDs in concentrations below 500 parts per million. They, too, will be exempt. Incineration of PCDs poses problems The material i,m be destroyed only by burning at 2,200 to 2,900 degrees fahrirnheit ' Most municipal Incinerators burn at only 1.500 to I EOO degrees. Any PCD laden material being incinerated now is entering the environment intact. Deyond these problems Is the question of how to purify con taminated soils and river sediments. Numerous substitutes (or PCDs have been developed >ince 1971, none of them with the fireproof qualities of PC Us Inn ail less toxic. There are Indications thal since Japan has banned the use of PCDs, ihere has been no Increase in fires traceable to iliv sub stitutes, Kopp said . The question of why If his taken so long for the US lo gel to the point that Japan arrived at (our yi-uis ago is a subject with many officials. "Sure, we can be faulted for not actum two or thin- vrar< earlier," said John Spaguoli, head nf PCU monitoring and re search tor the New York state loosen,il ton department "Hill we didn't know about the health prulilcms UiiH tiuscientists knew about the health problems . The pomi '> we're doing something about It now." HONS 206827