Document xjvaL2JjM3v67pV2xzZ92R4LE

bcc: iv X 1j C./Paton - CPATO . Vj/ F. \1aychoff/W. E. S'j J. E. Sprinrote E. S. Tucker - ETUCK March 19, 1969 Mr* Robert Rock FWPCA 620 Central Avenue ,, Building 2 0 Alameda, California 9^501 Dear Mr. Rockt In accordance with our Dr. Robert Keller's conversation with you laet week X have been asked to reply to the following questions which I understand you raisedt 1. Would polychlorinated biphenyl type materials such as those in our Aroclors be expected to be found in domestic wastes (household)? We do not know of any use of our Aroclors which would lead to their presence in domestic or household wastes. 2. Would polychlorinated biphenyl type materials such as those found in our Aroclors be expected to be found in Industrial wastes? One of the principal markets for our PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) materials is in electrical applications where they are used as fire resistant insulating fluids for transformers and capacitors. Xn this use the material , Is completely sealed in metal containers. Transformer use is for equipment in sizes above 15,000 volts rather than the familiar sizes of transformer seen along power lines for distribution to households. Zt is my Impression that the transformer and capacitor manufacturers do not have a lot of spillage or waste of the fluids which might end up in industrial wastes. Secondly, the industry has for some time practiced reclamation and reuse of these fluids from old equipment which needs repair. DSW 201079 STLCOPCB4052483 Mr. Robert Rock Kerch 19, 1969 . Another industrial use of the liquid PCBs is in heat transfer applications where the fluid functions in a closed system. Again the fire resistance characteristics of the PCBs leads to this use as e substitute for other flammable oils. For economic reasons the heat transfer systems should be maintained in good repair with a minimum of leakage which might conceivably be washed to plant sewers. In the functional fluid uses we have carried out a program for several years for the reclamation of used PCBs. PCBs are also used in several "plastic-type" applications. Such uses Include specialty adhesives, elastomers and specialty surface coatings. In these cases the PCB becomes an Integral part of the solid material and spillage or wastage of the PCBs would also, I believe, be held to a minimum. 3* If the PCBs might be found in Industrial wastes, would this be a result of a breakdown of a marketed product following use or ae a waste from a manufacturing process in which PCBs are used? The PCEs are Btable materials which would not be expected to "breakdown" or degrade to any extent in recocanended uses. 4. Would chlorinated biphenyls be found in oil/gasoline refinery effluents? I am not aware of any uses in the petroleum Industry which should result in PCBs in refinery effluents. 5. Do we have toxicity data - egpecidly for fish? Ve have acute animal screening toxicity data on all of the members of our Aroclor series. I have enclosed a Xerox copy of tables showing the general physical properties of our Aroclors. At the bottom of the table I have added to the printed data Information relative to the oral lethal dose In rata and the skin minimum lethal dose in rabbits. These data Indicate that the Aroclors cannot be considered seriously toxic from a standpoint of acute exposures. You will note that the samples were administered in various concentrations depending on the Viscosity of the samples and their solubilities in corn oil. DS\N 201080 STLCOPCB4052484 Hr. Robert Rock -3- Ksrch 19, 1969 X have enclosed also a reprint which describee the chronic vapor toxicity of two of the Aroclors. Aroclor 1242 and Aroclor 1254. The work described In this publication has lead to the establishment of a threshold limit value for industrial environment for these two members of the Aroclor series of 1.0 mg per cubic meter of air and 0.5 mg respectively. You will note that the authors of the publication suggested TLVs of twice the values established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. We have recently contracted with a consulting laboratory to run fish toxicity studies. X doubt that we will be able to find 96-hour Tim's because of the low solubility of the Aroclors. Our analysts have recently determined for example the following solubilities in tap water at room temperature. Aroclor____________ __ Sol, in ppb 1242 203 + 10 1248 106+14 1252 50 +2 We haven't completed our work cn the full series of compounds but we have found that, as might be expected, solubility decreases markedly with Increase In chlorine content. Perhaps X should mention at this point that the numerical designation of the Aroclors has meaning. Specifically the 1200 series Indicates biphenyl. The two subsequent numbers Indicate percentage chlorination. Thus, Aroclor 1242 is biphenyl chlorinated to the extent of 42jt. The 5400 aeries are terphenyls and again the last two numbers indicate the degree of chlorination. Thus, Aroclor 5460 la terphenyl chlorinated to 6o, The 4490 and 2p90 series are mixtures of biphenyls and terphenyls chlorinated to 65. 6. Can we provide cheraieal/physical property data for our Aroclor products - especially solubility in water? X believe X have answered this question In the discussion above. DSW 201081 STLCOPCB4052485 Mr. Robert Rock -4- March 19, 1969 In connection with the recent publication In the Ban Francisco Chronicle concerning the PCBs Monsanto has cade available the enclosed comments. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to let me know* Sincerely, EPWicJs Enclosures 2 Elmer P. Vheeler Manager, Environmental Health DSW 201082 STLCOPCB4052486