Document ykgGyz6bObVwvkZjkeKakEq4X
OCT 6 1976
Monsanto Will Phase Oiit
Polychlorinated Biphenyl
ST. LOUIS OJPI) Monsanto Co., Ike nation's
Aihninfstralor Russell E. Train.
leading supplier of polychlorinated biphenyl,
I "Eovironmental con tamination will continue to
used as an electric in be a problem due to the
sulator, said Tuesday it would stop production of
millioae of PCBa already in landQBs. soils, river and
the chemical by Oct 31, .lake serhmanu. In our air
1977. because of possible and water and In wiktife
hazardous effects on and human tissue This
hsndfcd by about 30 em ployes at the firm's plant In Saugef, III., across the Mississippi River horn St Louis, and the firm said
probably no employes wmdd ioee Jobe because of phasing out of PCB. Total employment at the plant la
L30S. Monsanto sakt sales
Monsanto said the phasing out of (reduction
over the next year would give time for manufac turers to find substitute materials lor PCS. Sub stitutes developed by the electrical industry are
contamination will be there for yean--mooing Into Ufa systems, Including
Monsanto said last January it would even tually stop production of PCB but no date was set
of PCB amounted to leee' a per cent of"
Monsanto also makes PCB at a plant in Ragland,. and production there alaov wfl be phased oat, although on no timetable
befog tested, although they Polychlorinated biphenyl PCB-dBed transformers
may not prove as effective has bemused since about are used in high-rise
in resisting ftre as PCB.
1330 as fire-rseistant Oufcfc buddings, hospitals and
The Environmental and electric Insulating In schools and in Mactrie ally
Protection Agency, which capacitors and tran- powered urban coriunulfT
had called polychlorinated
trains. Their function la to
biphenyl s "significant hazard to haman health and
either Increase or reduce voltage or change the
the environment,"
current In the system.
'
'
the
newt
of
absut 77,on
pounds
la
Capacitors conUfntog PCB are uaad to oontrof voltage
meant yuan an Man about and redace power tosses to
environmental damage fhnneocent and mercury
NgMs, AC moton. air
Monsanto's American eondUMatog compressors
production of PCB was and tatovUion receiveri.
MOMS 050915