Document xzQQg5K5O1MK2Op2YNgaNpDaQ

(' ) Vr *) * f :i - , i REPORT AHB COKiWrS Oil Krf&'lMO Oii CHLQKA2D B U i im ix IN HS SNVIRONKSKT AT INDUSTRIAL BIOTRSr A30iUX0i{I, CHICAGO, MARCH 21, 1969 Robert L. M etcalf From the background data presented i t appears that something of the order of 80 million pounds of polychlor biphenyls (PCB) are produced annually. These products contain from 3 to 9 chlorine atoms per molecule and becomo increasingly in ert and stable to environmental oxidation with higher degree of chlorination. However, about half the production i s in the 3-chlorine atom variety (Aroclor.l2U2).. At f i r s t thought i t seems unlikely because of the major uses of PCB in capacitors, transformer o ils , heat tran sfer flu id s in closed systemt, that these materials could be the source of the substantial dogroe of environmental contamination reported. However, about I4O million pounds annually i s stated to be used as p la stic iz e rs, hydraulic flu id , adhesives, and in carbon paper. From th is amount a very substantial percentage must escape into the environment as waste. Because of the apparent high sta b ility of PCB, amounts entering the environment would be degraded very slowly and i t seems possible that a t le a st lOmillion pounds annually may become environmental contaminants. Since the PCB'.s were introduced commercially in 1929 there have been 1*0 years of production. I f this has averaged $0 m illion pounds per year, then about 2 x 10^ pounds have been made and perhaps 2 x 108 pounds have entered the environment*. Because of the apparent s ta b ility of these compounds most of th is amount may s t i l l bs circulating in the global ecosystem and th is i s suggested by the levels reported by Holmes e t a l. ( 1967) and Rissbrough et a l. ( I 968) in animal tissu e s which are quite comparable to those found for DDT. Both PCB 740437 u )2 and BDi are extremely stable and water insoluble and have been produced in roughly the same to ta l amounts over ths past 30 years. ihus i t seems quite reasonable to conclude that the environmental contamination described for PCB i s due to waste amounts of these compounds, fid s, coupled with the thorough evidence from mass spectometry strongly suggests that there i s an important environmental quality problem involved in wastes of PCB. ^peidmantal Work Planned at In dustrial Bio te st. -- fhis laboratory i s highly experienced and seems quite competent to provide standard data required by FDA. for evaluating the safety (or hazard) of agricu ltural or in d u strial chemicals, i`he long term feeding studies on r a ts and dogs w ill doubtless serve to indicate tho chronic toxicity hazards of chronic ingestion of the PCB at ppm levels and th is w ill almost certainly re su lt in severe liv e r damage at some reasonable level. The chicken reproduction investigations at 0.01, 1, 10, and IDO ppm should bs considerably more meaningful p articu larly in regard to studies of egg hatchabillty, sh ell thickness, etc. While the fis h to x icity investigations w ill be in terestin g, I cannot see that they are p articu larly relevant or necessary a t th is time and I would think this data could bs obtained from Fish and Wildlife in vestigation s, e t c ., and w ill undoubtedly be forthcoming, un%s.o. licited. Conclusions atyd Suggestions.. I t seems to the writer that the evidence regarding PCB effects on environmental quality i s su fficie n tly substan tial, widespread, and alarming to require immediate corrective action on tho part of Monsanto. The defensive measures presently inderway w ill do l i t t l e i f anything to NEV 027183 740438  Jo - 3- rofute the evidence already presented. I would suggest the following: 1*. A substantial an alytical program to monitor a ir and water effluents from Monsanto plants producing PCB and also those of major customers 2. Prompt correction of effluen t conditions where PCB can be demonstrated. 3 Serious consideration of curtailing sales of PCB far uses such as p la stic iz e rs, adhesives, and carbon paper where waste i s certain to enter environment. li. Review of disposal and recovery methods fo r PCB in capacitors, transformers, heat tran sfer flu id s, and hydraulic flu id s. Emphasize to customers importance of preventing environmental contamination.. 5.. Thorough investigation of environmental fa te s of various PCB' s including photochemical oxidations, chlorination in water systems, etc. 6. Biochemical and electron microscopic study of levels of PCB ingestion which cause proliferation of endoplasmic reticulum and induction of multifunction oxidases in chlchons and r a ts (perhaps these are p a rtia lly included in present Industrial B iotsst experiments). 7. Begin investigations of possible biodegradable substitutes for PCB*s as p la stic iz e rs, adhesibes, fir e re sista n t hydraulic flu id s, e tc ., anticipating lo ss of these markets as a necessary corollary of environmental problems*. Are, for example, chlorinated diphenyl oxides or diphenyl sulfides suitable for these uses. They should be considerably more biodegradable,. NEV 740439