Document xzkLeKm1XyDLNwk1NOjaD54vG

Monsanto SEP 2 1 1982 Monsanto Europe S A Avenue de Teivuren 270-27? Letter Bo* No I B - 11 SO Brussels Belgium The Editor Electrical Review Quadrant House The Quadrant Sutton Surrey SM2 5AS UNITED KINGDOM September 15, 1982. Dear Sir, 1 was dismayed and disappointed to sec polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) described as "highly toxic" and "carcinogenic" in the article, "P.C.B. pollution alarm for Hawker Slddeley," EJ ect r i c a_1_ _ Rev lew. 3 September 1982. 1 must point out that the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence (sec enclosed background information) supports neither the "highly toxic" or "carcinogenic" label. As to toxicity, PCBs on an acute basis are about as toxic to humans as common table salt and are thus classified as only midly toxic. You should also know that since 1978 there have been 10 epidemiology studies of the human health effects of PCBs performed by scientists throughout the world and that none of these studies produced evidence of a link between PCBs and any human cancer or. Indeed, any other chronic health effects. On the other hand, there la no question that PCBs are a persistent class of compounds requiring oroper handling and disposal. In addition, they are not InnociQ^us, l.e., like most chemicals, PCBs can produce harmful effects et very high doses. T< (0?) 792 II I? MQNS 002316 92927 R C 8 294 994 C C P 000-0008797 97 T V A - a T W 406 980 9J t Monsa'str PAGt No 2 We realize that there is a substantial amount of misinformation In print and, unfortunately, "on the record," regarding PCBs. Thus, vc ban understand how even a respected technical journal such as Electrical Review could be misled -- Indeed, this Is how myths are perpetuated. At the same time, as a former manufacturer of PCBs and an unrivaled source of scientific expertise on them, we have a responsibility to combat the grossly exaggerated perceptions of risk associated with exposure to PCBs wherever encountered. It is in this spirit that we provide the enclosed information. Sincerely yours Enel. ECC, : H.A, Aboutboul B.A. Baxter C.J. Keast C.J. Larsen A. Minn J.W. Pennington NCH. Thomas P.W. Whippy - Brussels -" -M -" -" - Newport - Brussels - *' MONS 002317