Document xQK769LQzX2GL1X93yQbDB5E

DEPARTED SWT Of nev/s release GE0L0G3CAI. snvn For release Stotcr.bor 20. 1972 Forrester (202) 343-'ifF.6 PCB SPOTTED IN NATION'S WATER RESO'JliCIiS PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) -- an environmentally persistent industrial compound chemically similar to DOT -- bat* been found in an unexpectedly lurgu number of sampling points itk streams, lakes, and reservoirs throughout the Nation, according to scientist,*; of the U. S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior. The PCB findings were first made pu?>lic in a paper presented to the Division of Pesticide Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, New York City, August 29, 1972, by Hans J, Crup-Wicsnev, Herman R. belts, and Marvin L. Yates, of the USGS Viator Resources Division, Washington, D. C. Reporting on work done ss part of an interagency monitoring program concerned with pesticides in water supplies, Crump-Wiasnor, senior author of the paper. And Chief Chemist of the Geological Survey's Water Quality Laboratory, Washington, D.C., said that "During the past two years, wc* have analyzed over 2,000 valor and sediment sample* from streoryj and lakes throughout the United States, collected from January 1971 through June 1972." "W* expected to find traces of PCBs at ftan.plir.i,' points near industrial centers," the Survey scientist said, "but were surprised to find detectable levela in samples from 17 cf 39 States covered by the sasplingi" `Me found PCBs in river water, soiae newly-developed real-estate Iwkco, aud at two U.S. Geological Survey `benchmark/ stations Jointed in relatively remote areas cssontiully unaffected by tun," Crurap-V'lesiiar said, adding that 'Me also found lake nod stream sediuent* to luve relatively uip.h coucontc&t ioik-. of PCII residues, (bin out of every five bottom sediment sastplva collected in 18 States contained significant concentrations of rcfis," Urphnoizing that State and Federal health officials have been alerted to the occuj rence.K of FCCs, t hfe Survey spokesman nuleJ that ".h a:fc level for PCRf. hns not been generally accepted to date." MCNS 060123 2 The Pood and Drug Administration limits the concentration in food products to 3,000 micrograms per kilogram (five pounds per taUlltm pounds), and the Environmental Protection Agency, in May, 1972, as the result of information .obtained in this and other studies, recommended a maximum li-ait of 0.01 micrograms per liter (one pound in 30 billion quarts) in river and lake water. The USGS study Indicates that detectable concentrations of PCBe in river and lake water ranged from 0.1 to 4.0 micrograms per liter* Concentrations in bottom sediments of seres** and lakes ranged from 5*0 to 3,200 micrograms per kilogram. First produced about 40 yeara ago, the PCB compounds have become incrcas- lngly useful In such Industrial applications as components in transformers and capacitors, heat exchangers, paints, Inks, dyes, and for dust control. "Although previous investigations have generally been concerned with PCB contamination from accidental spills in industrial areas, this study was an attempt to document general distribution of the compounds in our waterways," Croap-Wicaner said. "PCfle can enter the aquatic environment/' he explained, "by atmospheric fallout from low temperature incineration of solid wastes, from spills, or from sewage and industrial WASte outfalls." Ths USCS paper, "A Study of Distribution of Polychlorinated BiphtnyL* In the Aquatic Environment," is planned for publication in the American Chemical Society's "Advances in Chemistry" series, . I i#1 0 # (Note to Editors: Attached tables give a general Statcby-State listing of PCB concentrations detected in the Initial survey. Detailed listing of sampling sites ia on file with State agencies Involved) MQhS 060724  '") SUMMARY OF PCB RESIDUE DETERMINATIONS - SEDIMENT SAMPLES January 1971 - June 1972 STATE Number of 5ediiceDt Sareplas Number of Samples v/Dstectable FCB Concentrat i<m Ranee (tnlcrograT.s/Iu loRraxs AIASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT FLORIDA GEORGIA HAWAII IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEK YORK NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIAPUERTO RICO SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TEXAS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA UISC0HS1N WYOMING 3 -- 23 13 1 118 12 4 --- -- -- -- 11 -- -- '-- a -- -- -- 12 -- -- -- 1 -- 4 16 -- 11 -- 294 10 )0 2 -- . - 0 -- 4 3 -- 1 50 10 0 -- .-- .-- -- -- 5 -- -- 2 -- -- -- 10 -- -- -- J -- 2 11 -- 8 -- 24 8 0 1 -- -- t t ti -- -- 20 - 2,400 20 - 190 -- 40 5 - 3,200 10 - 1,300 -- -- -- -- -- -10 - 1,200 -- -- -- 10 - l,2on -- -- -- 8 - 250 -- -- -8.8 -- 15 4 140 10 - 50 -- 30 - 200 7.9 - 290 5 - 80 -10 a.- -- MONS 060725 SUMMARY OF PCB RESIDUE DETERMINATIONS - WATER SAMPLES January 1971 - June 1972 STATE Number of Hater Sairoleo ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CWDIECTIC'JT FLORIDA GEORGIA HAIM 11 IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO KEK YORK NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA PUERTO RICO SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TEXAS VIRGINIA WASHINGTON W1CST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING 3 8 32 161 32 13 231 -- 5 24 10 7 9 2 6 5 2 3 8 21 47 44 11 36 325 40 -- 19 13 2 7 -- 18 660 4 25 4 3 18 Number of Samples with Detectable PCB Concentrated Range (microuraas/litt 0 0 0 2 1 6 12 1 -- 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0' 0 0 0. 3 0 52 0 -- 0 0 1 1 -- 0 12 1 0 0 0 '0 __ - -- -- 0.1 4 0.1 0.3 0.1 - 0.2 o.l- - 2.1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 0.1 0.2 -- 0.1 - 0.3 -- -- -- -- 0.1 -- 0.1 - 4.0 .~ -- -- -- 0.2 0.1 -- -- 0.1 - 3.0 0.1 -- -- -- -- 060726