Document zQYG8bdD7erYXYz3gdOpg2M1a

MEXICO, MO, LEDGER D. 10,DM SEP 3 1976 . r Monsanto Checks Lung Cancer Signs ! - ST. LOUIS (AP) - Moifc study. Monsanto said It u. ;knto Co. reports a pacts to complete Its In " Inary study has found a vestigation In 1! to II months. S than normal Incidence The Monsanto Information, ns cancer among disclosed In a news release, deceased workers who hadwas baaed on a review of the 'once worked In Its plant lliat records of more than 900 cur produces polyoholorlnated rent and former employes at biphenyls (PC'Bs). Its sole PCB production unit at But Dr. George Roush, Sauget, HI., since 1090. director of the company's PCBs, the fire-resistant medical and environmental chemicals used mainly as In health department, said there sulating fluids In electrical II no Indication that the equipment such as hlgh-power praeence of the disease was transformers, have been related to PCBs. - termed a significant health Roush also said the study hazard by the Environmental has shown no cases of Protection Agency. They have malignant melanoma or been shown to cause ipkncreattc cancer were found reproductive failures, gaatrlo among current or former disorders and skin lesions In employes of the unit. mammals. -Roush cautioned that the Monsanto, the only lung cancer findings were American manufacturer of based on "raw Information" PCBs, announced tn January ahd require a controlled It Intends to phase out production of the chemicals. A recent Mobil Oil Corp. study reported finding three cases of melanoma and two cases of pancreatic cancer among 72 employes who had been exposed to a PCB product while working at aJ Mobil plant In New Jersey,' Monsanto said. , Roush said the absence of the malignancies In Mon- saato's study at the Sauget plant "casts strong doubt that the findings of the Mobil study were In fact related to PCB." Regarding the lung cancer findings, Roush said Monsanto has been able to Identify M former employes at Sauget who have died and that seven of these persons had lung cancer. This compares with 9,7 cases that would would have been expected based on a U.S. male population for the year 1069 compiled by the National Cancer Institute, Roush said. Three of the eeven workers who died of lung cancer worked In the PCB unit for less than three months, he. Mtd> ' Roush said study results also have shown that workers In the PCB unit lived longer, than the national average. Officials tor the EPA have said PCB levels above those allowed by the Food and Drug Administration have been found In fish from the Oreat < Lakes, the Hudson River, the upper Mississippi and off the Southern California coast_l MONS 035210