852 PCBs AND ASSOCIATED AROMATICS
In 1971 Monsanto introduced Aroclor 1016, which had
an average chlorination similar to Aroclor 1242 but with
fewer of the more highly chlorinated compounds. At the end
of 1975, only Aroclors 1221, 1016, 1242 and 1254 were still
being produced.
Up to this point in time (1971) the principal government
“control” actions for PCBs were the result of ‘persuasion’
by the Federal Government rather than by direct regula-
tory exercise. The Government possessed no real regulatory
authority to control the manufacture, distribution or use of
PCBs. However, strong influence was brought to bear by the
several Government inquiries of the time—especially the
PCB Interdepartmental Task Force. The principal recom-
mendation of the PCB Task Force was the discontinuance
of all uses of PCBs except in electrical capacitors and trans-
formers. The latter uses were judged to be both essential to
industry and represented ‘closed’ systems. Thus, the major
action of PCB manufacturing phaseout and use restrictions
were taken ‘voluntarily’ by Monsanto.
An OECD study on the sampling and analysis of residues
in wildlife involved 23 laboratories in 13 OECD member
countries between 1966 and 1971 and confirmed that residues
of organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and mercury were to be
found in a wide variety of species, in different habitats, and in
areas where PCBs have not been deliberately released.
The OECD published a case study report of PCB and
mercury pollution in Japan in 1976. The general situa-
tion regarding PCB pollution was described as follows:
“Environmental pollution of PCBs was first recognized
in Europe followed by the US then Japan. Results of field
investigations demonstrated that PCB pollution in organ-
isms inhabiting the natural environment was at a severe
level. In Japan, analytical results indicating concentrations
of residues in wild animals were first reported in 1971. In
January of 1972, a standard method for the analysis of PCBs
was established by the research group of the Ministry of
Health and Welfare sponsored by Science and Technology
Agency, whereby the uniform analysis of PCB residues in
wild animals was realized.... A national survey concerning
environmental pollution of PCBs was conducted from May
to December, 1972. During this period, the water quality of
1,084 locations and bottom sediments sampled from 1,445
places was inspected.”
During 1970, the Council on Environmental Quality
(CEQ) studied regulatory approaches to the problem of
toxic chemicals in the environment. In its report “Toxic
Chemicals” published in 1971, CEQ identified PCBs as a
major problem. [Council on Environmental Quality, 1971].
The instructions for handling Westinghouse’s Inerteen
insulating fluid referenced the ANSI C107.1–1974 for com-
plete information on handling and disposal of Askarels.
The document also included a section on “Environmental
Considerations” which stated “It has been shown by several
laboratories that measurable amounts of the PCBs, particu-
larly those with more than 50% chlorination, are present in
the general environment and are a threat to certain species
of wild-life.... To be sure that the Inerteen and Inerteen
contaminated materials do not contaminate the environmentthey must be incinerated in approved equipment.” A disposal
section in the handling instructions describes the disposal of
Inerteen liquid, solvent rinses contaminated with Inerteen,
solids contaminated with inerteen and the cleaning of con-
taminated drums.
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists retained a threshold limit value of 1 mg/m^3 in
1971 and stated “Exposure to the vapor and fume of chlorodi-
phenyl may result in acne, irritation of respiratory passages,
and injury to the liver.... Several deaths due to atrophy of
the liver occurred among workers exposed to the fumes of
chlorodiphenyls and chloronaphthalenes.”
Transplacental passage of Aroclors 1221 and 1254 in
rabbits was observed [Grant et al., 1971] when PCB resi-
dues were found in higher concentrations in fetal liver than
in tissues of dosed does.
Placental and adipose tissues of stillbirths from Yusho
mothers confirmed the presence of Kanechlor components
[Kuratsune et al., 1971].
The total quantity of contaminated rice oil ingested by
patients in the Yusho incident of 1968, as well as the dose rate
of ingestion of PCBs was estimated^38 by Yoshimura, 1971.
Studies of Yusho patients have revealed symptoms of
numbness, pain, hypothesia or areflexia of the limbs in about
50% of cases [Murai and Kuroiwa, 1971].
From 1971 to December 1975 a frequent method of dis-
posal of askarel capacitors was to throw them into a dumpster
for disposal in various landfills.
The State of Massachusetts enacted a bill in 1971 to
prohibit the discharge of any chemical solution containing
PCBs into the environment.
A paper was presented at the 1971 Doble Client
Conference to report activities of the special Doble subcom-
mittee on askarel disposal problems.
February 23, 1971: ANSI meeting of the committee on
Use and Disposal of Askarel of the Power Equipment Division,
February 23, 1971. “The committee noted that the purpose of
this meeting is to review developments since the August 20,
1970 meeting and develop recommendations to ANSI on a
suggested program of action, including priorities for various
activities, list of organizations to be invited to participate, etc.
The formation of the ANSI committee had as its
objectives to:“1) Serve as a source of technical information and
advice for Federal, State and local authorities and
for the information of all others concerned.
2) Encourage the development of suitable disposal
facilities and maintain a list of their capabilities and
locations, for the information of all concerned.
3) Serve as the advisory group for US participation
in CEE, IEC, COPANT, SEGRA and other inter-
national organizations.”Between February and October 1971 TCP/PCDD/PCB
was sprayed on a horse arena in Missouri. Still bottom resi-
dues from TCP manufacture were contained in the wasteC016_003_r03.indd 852C016_003_r03.indd 852 11/18/2005 1:12:24 PM11/18/2005 1:12:24 PM