Showing papers in "Environmental Health Perspectives in 1972"

Epidemiologic study on Yusho, a Poisoning Caused by Ingestion of Rice Oil Contaminated with a Commercial Brand of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Abstract: In October, 1968, an epidemic of a peculiar skin disease similar to chloracne was reported in Fukuoka-Ken (Fukuoka prefecture), Japan. The epidemic was later proved to have spread not only over Fukuoka-Ken but also over 20 other prefectures in the western part of Japan (Fig. 1). It produced 1,057 patients according to the latest tabulation (August, 1971) by the Ministry of Welfare. Soon after the epidemic was announced, a study group was organized by the staff of the faculties of medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, agriculture, and engineering of the Kyushu University and by the staff of the local health departments, to clarify the cause of the epidemic and to effectuate its control (1). We participated in the study group and conducted, as members of its epidemiologic study subgroup, an extensive epidemiologic investigation following the basic methodology of epidemiology (2). Fortunately, the cause of the epidemic was soon demonstrated to be the ingestion of a brand of rice oil contaminated with a commercial brand of polychlorinated biphenyls, and the disease was called "Yusho", namely oil disease. Although our observations and experiences are confined to the Yusho patients seen in FukuokaKen, we believe that reporting of them will help many people in the world who are deeply con-

Rates and Routes of Transport of PCBs in the Environment.

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are one member of a class of chlorinated organic compounds which give rise to concern, because of their wide dispersal and persistence in the environment and tendency to accumulate in food chains, with possible adverse effects on animals at the top of the food webs, including man. In the past, attention has been concentrated on chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, such as DDT, dieldrin, heptachlor and HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane). More recently attention has been focused on PCBs and on chlorinated dibenzodioxins. Likely candidates for future attention are hexachlorobenzene, chlorinated dibenzofurans, and chlorinated phenols. In the past, such compounds have generally been studied individually. As the number of compounds giving rise to concern increases, there is an urgent need to establish uniform monitoring schemes and generalized models describing environmental transport and bioaccumulation which will be applicable to all compounds with these properties. Models such as the global monitoring scheme outlined by the SCEP study (1), and the global transport model outlined recently by Woodwell et al. (2), are needed in order to help identify sources of environmental contamination, to establish acceptable levels of discharge, and to estimate the effectiveness of different control strategies. This paper summarizes the fragmentary knowledge available about production, uses, and losses of PCBs, and attempts to define the major routes of transport and reservoirs of PCBs in the environ-

Susceptibility to lead toxicity.

Abstract: Adverse effects of lead on human health have been recognized for centuries. Nevertheless, current public health measures require a greater understanding of the pathobiology of chronic low level exposure (1-3). Such considerations are related to the question of what level of lead intake is harmful and why specific clinical manifestations of lead poisoning are encountered under particular circumstances. The recognition of factors, both synergistic and antagonistic, which influence the toxicity of lead is essential for adequate understanding of the effects of environmental lead on human health. The immense body of literature already written about lead contains many clues to and impressions of such factors, both adverse and beneficial, modifying the toxicity of lead. This brief review will discuss a number of such factors. Few of these have as yet been subjected to rigorous experimental confirmation. A consideration of antagonisms and synergisms is based on certain assumptions with regard to the metabolism of lead; that is, the daily intake and excretion of lead as well as the movement of lead between various tissues and effects on cells and subcellular organelles.

Toxicology of PCBs for Mammals and for Birds.

Abstract: ImagesFIGURE 1.FIGURE 2.FIGURE 3. aFIGURE 3. bFIGURE 3. cFIGURE 3. dFIGURE 4.FIGURE 5FIGURE 5FIGURE 6.FIGURE 7. aFIGURE 7. b

Cigarette smoke in closed spaces.

Abstract: For years it has been postulated that the cigarette smoker adversely affects the nonsmoker by contaminating the indoor atmosphere (2,3). Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General, J. L. Steinfeld, focused public attention on the question when he requested a ban on smoking in closed public spaces (4). The average person spends the great majority of his time, probably 80 to 90 percent, indoors (5);thus, there is widespread concern about the environmental conditions produced by indoor smoking. Experiments on mouse skin have indicated that the condensate tar of the smoke from the glowing end of the cigarette (sidestream) has a higher tumor-producing activity than condensate leaving the mouthpiece of the cigarette (mainstream) (6). Other experiments showed that air pollution extract and cigarette smoke condensate combined have more than additive tumor-producing potential (7,8). Previous studies on cigarette smoke in closed spaces suggest that the nonsmoker is exposed to considerable amounts of cigarette smoke in the course of his normal activities (9). Thus, the pollution of closed spaces by cigarette smoke possibly contributes to such otherwise unexplained phenomena as lung cancer in nonsmokers, differences in lung

Toxicities of PCBs to Fish and Environmental Residues.

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been found in fish and wildlife from many parts of the world at levels which may adversely affect aquatic organisms and interfere with pesticide residue analyses (1, 2, 3, 4). The environmental occurrence, uses, and present toxicological aspects of PCBs were recently reviewed by Peakall and Lincer (5), Gustaffson (6), and Risebrough (7). PCBs have gas chromatographic characteristics similar to many organochlorine insecticides. Jensen (8) first identified unknown gas chromatographic peaks as PCBs in extracts of pike and an eagle which were analyzed for organochlorine insecticides. The Monsanto Company is the sole manufacturer of PCBs in the United States (6) and markets eight formulations of chlorinated biphenyls under the trademarks Aroclor 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1260, 1262, and 1268. The latter two digits designate the percent chlorine of each formulation. Aroclor 1248 and 1254 are the materials produced in greatest quantities and are used as a dielectric fluid in capacitors and in closed-system heat exchangers (9). Aroclor 1242 is used as a hydraulic fluid, and Aroclor 1260, as a plasticizer. Chlorinated terphenyls are marketed under the trademark Aroclor 5442 and 5460. A mixture of biand terphenyls is designated Aroclor 4465. The Monsanto Company has restricted the sale of PCBs for uses in which disposal of the end products cannot be controlled, such as the use of PCBs as plasticizers (6).

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in adipose tissue of the general population of the nation.

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been reported in many different parts of the environment in this country (1-3). The purpose of this report is to present preliminary results from a monitoring program in which these materials are routinely sought and quantitated. The Human Monitoring Survey, established in 1967 by the Pesticides Program, DHEW (now Division of Pesticide Community Studies, EPA), determines, on a continuing basis, the exposure to pesticides experienced by the general population by measuring levels of pesticide residues present in tissues or excreted in urine. Initially, technological limitations and resource restrictions limited the Survey to the identification and measurement of those chlorinated hydrocarbon residues which are stored in measurable amounts in mammalian adipose tissue, or which can be measured in blood, these residues being a reflection of past exposure. The initial program plan has been and continues to be reviewed frequently with reference to technological and/or research developments to identify other groups of pesticides and other materials of interest, which can be incorporated with slight modification of the existing program. Samples are collected through the direct cooperation of pathologists, who are in hospital or private practice or who are in public service as city or county medical examiners. Samples are

Occurrence of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Humans

Abstract: In 1967 the Human Monitoring Survey (1) was established by the Pesticides Program of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (now, Division of Pesticide Community Studies, E.P.A.) to determine on a national scale the levels and trends of certain more commonlyused pesticide chemicals in the general population. Initially, this program was limited to the identification and measurement of chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in human adipose tissue and blood serum. The Michigan Department of Public Health has been one of several state health laboratories participating in the analysis of samples, collected by the State Services Branch of the Division of Pesticide Community Studies, from hospitals located in approximately 30 states. For the purpose of obtaining poolable data, the state laboratories use methodologies recommended by the Perrine Primate Laboratory, E.P.A. (Florida), which is responsible for methodology development, the operation of the quality control program, and serves as a repository of reference standards. Since 1966 our laboratory has been conducting routine analysis of human adipose samples for organochlorine pesticide residues by gas chromatography, utilizing electron capture detection. In many instances, we observed numerous un-

Embryonic mortality and chromosomal alterations caused by aroclor 1254 in ring doves.

Abstract: The breeding success of Ring Doves (Streptopelia risoria) fed Aroclor 1254 at 10 ppm was determined over two generations. Six pairs of birds were fed PCBs for three months, then allowed to incubate their clutch of two eggs. Eggs were then collected again for six months, at which time the birds were allowed to incubate another clutch. Results are given in Table 1. The low-hatching success of the second generation was due to heavy embryonic mortality. The age of embryonic death varied considerably but was mainly in the range of 3-8 days. This finding is at variance with that of Scott et al. (1), who found a significant decrease in hatchability of chicken eggs in the first generation with 10 ppm Aroclor 1248 for eight weeks and almost complete failure at both four and eight weeks at 20 ppm Aroclor 1248. In this case mortality occurred immediately before hatching. Eggshell thinning was not observed in either the first or second generation (2, 3). This is in agreement with the findings of Dahigren and Linder (4) for the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and Heath et al. (5) for the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Cytogenetic studies were performed on 24 dove embryos at 3-6 days of incubation. Six embryos were from dove pairs not fed PCBs (control), 17 embryos were from PCB-fed (10 ppm in diet) pairs and one embryo was irradiated with 155

Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in ecosystems.

Abstract: Chlorinated biphenyl compounds have become ubiquitous components of the global environment. They were first detected in species of Swedish wildlife (1, 2, 3) and were subsequently found in seals from the North Atlantic (4), in a bird of prey in Great Britain (5), in fish and birds from the Netherlands (6), and in both terrestrial and marine species of wildlife in western North America (7). In the Arctic they are present in the polar bears (Thalarctos maritimus) of Hudson Bay (8) and in fresh-water fish of tundra lakes that receive no pollutants save those that are present in the fallout from the atmosphere (9). In the Southern Hemisphere, they were found in all bird species analyzed that inhabit waters north of the Antarctic Convergence but could not be detected in a number of samples of wildlife resident in Antarctica south of the Convergence (10). In this paper some of the available residue data are summarized within the framework of a preliminary formulation of a mass balance equation for the global distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls. Commercial manufacture of PCBs was begun in the United States in 1929 (11), and environmental input may be assumed to have begun at that time. Current levels of PCBs in major sinks, such as the oceans, are evidently a function of many parameters, including the proportion of the total amount of PCBs produced over the past forty years that has so far entered the environment, pathways of dissemination, rates of degradation -to other compounds, partition coefficients between water and lipid fractions of organisms

Combined effects of noise and ototoxic drugs.

Abstract: ImagesFIGURE 1.FIGURE 4.FIGURE 5.FIGURE 6.FIGURE 8.FIGURE 9.FIGURE 10.FIGURE 11.FIGURE 12.FIGURE 14.

Studies on the Mechanism of Toxicity of DDT and Polychlorinated Biphenyls: Disruption of Osmoregulation in Marine Fish.

Abstract: In 1970 studies were initiated at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory to explore mechanisms of toxicity underlying the high sensitivity of bony fish, teleosts, to organochlorine pollutants. The starting point was several reports that DDT [1 ,1, 1-trichloro-2, 2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane] inhibited Na, K-ATPase (Na+, K+-activated adenosine triphosphatase), as well as the knowledge that this enzyme appears to play a central role in osmoregulation by marine teleosts. In the face of a desiccative environment, these fish maintain body fluid hypotonicity (Fig. 1) by drinking sea water, absorbing water coupled with salts across the intestinal epithelium, and eventually secreting the NaCl across the gill epithelium while retaining the free water. The primary driving mechanism in both intestine and gill is the Na pump with which Na, K-ATPase appears to be intimately involved. For fuller discussion, see (2) and (3). After demonstrating that DDT did, in fact, inhibit Na, K-ATPase activity in homogenates of intestinal mucosa and gill filaments from several marine teleosts (2), attention was focused on the sea water-adapted eel (Anguilla rostrata), in which osmoregulation has been well investigated. This eel can also adapt to fresh water and can be used for future DDT studies.

Mycoviruses: a new dimension in microbiology.

Abstract: Knowledge of mycoviruses is so new that most scientists are barely aware that they exist, yet they are widespread and affect many parameters. Their possible effect on the levels of toxins and metabolites produced by fungi enhance their significance in environmental health research. Evidence for the occurrence of a lysogenic virus in yeast was presented as early as 1936 (1), and the viruses of higher fungi were first suspected in 1950 when Sinden and Hauser (2) reported a degenerative disease of mushrooms. Olpidium brassicae was shown in 1958 to be the vector of the virus which causes the big vein disease of lettuce but the evidence did not suggest that the fungus supported multiplication of the virus (3, 4). The first virus of a fast growing fungus was reported by Ellis and Kleinschmidt (5, 6). The discovery resulted from several years of intensive investigation of the active factor in Penicillium stoloniferum responsible for the stimulation of interferon in test animals. Lampson et al. (7), working with another antiviral substance from P. funiculosum also capable of inducing interferon (8), found this activity associated with a doublestranded RNA extracted from mycelia of this mold. Subsequently, the RNA extracted from purified P. stoloniferum mycovirus was shown to be double stranded in nature (9).

Polychlorinated biphenyls: their effects on penned pheasants.

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been useful industrial products since the beginning of their commercial production in 1929. The first report of PCBs occurrence in wildlife was made from the work of S6ren Jensen, a Swedish Chemist, in the New Scientist in 1966 (1). Since then PCBs have been reported to be widespread in the world's ecosystem, building up in food chains as has been reported for organochlorine insecticides. The chemical structure of PCBs and their action

Food exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls.

Abstract: The PCB family of industrial chemicals has been used in a number of useful and beneficial ways for more than 40 years. PCBs have been used in capacitors, as transformer fluids, as heat transfer agents, in plasticizers and adhesives, and in sealants and printing inks. Needless to say, they have no place in the nation's food supply. The scientific community has been aware of the potential hazard of the PCBs since at least 1966. Reports in the foreign literature at that time indicated the detection of this chemical in fish and birds. However, the status of the analytical detection method for organochlorine pesticide residues in reference to PCBs was not perfected until early 1969, after it was discussed in FDA's pesticide analytical workshop and the former Division of Pesticides improved the analytical method, so that it was satisfactory for routine analysis. We know that as a toxic substance PCBs are a potential but not immediate health hazard and that their environmental background level is not high. We do not know how long-term exposure to PCBs might affect human health, and we cannot yet explain the inconsistent presence of the chemical in certain areas of the environment. We have been faced recently with PCB adulteration of food from accidental sources and from untraceable environmental sources. The exact routes of contamination are subject to speculation. Some theories point to the industrial wastes from plants using PCB, leaching of PCB from plastic objects in waste disposal (burning at waste incineration plants or run-off from landfills into streams), and

Use and replaceability of polychlorinated biphenyls.

Abstract: tEd. Note: This paper was given at the PCBs Conference reported in Issue number 1, April 1972, but was not ready for publication in that issue. Since it was submitted the Monsanto Company released PCBs production figures for 1960-1971 (Monsanto press release of November 30, 1971). Information in that release further specifies statements in the paper indicated by a #. Figures from the press release are: the U.S. Government's scientific studies of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB's). The task force was coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology and the Council on Environmental Quality. Represented on the task force were the following agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency, The Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior and Justice. On September 13 individual tasks were assigned to participating agencies, and the Commerce Department was asked to critically

Chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon induced modifications of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum: concentric membrane arrays.

Abstract: A number of commercial compounds having chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon structures are used extensively for medical(3), industrial(4) and agricultural(5) purposes. Quantities of certain parent chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons and metabolites have been repeatedly detected as residues in the food supply and tissues of birds, fish, and mammals(6-9) including man(10). Chlorinated diphenyl-p-dioxins have been identified as contaminants of many commercial products, such as certain edible fats, herbicides and disinfectants. It is suggested that the compound results from the conjugation of commercial chlorinated phenols(1 1). Polychlorinated polyphenyls are among the most abundant chlorinated hydrocarbon global pollutants. Their contamination of the environment is a result of the widespread commercial use of these compounds for their properties of insulation, adhesiveness, thermoplasticity, chemical inertness, and insolubility. Following this investigation of sequential biochemical and ultrastructural alterations within the liver produced by three chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons chlorinated diphenyl-p-dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and a highly chlorinated triphenyl (PCT)-certain similarities of biochemical and ultrastructural effects of the compounds were observed. The livers of rats fed the chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons consistently contained numerous multi-layered concentric membrane arrays, proliferated smooth

Polychlorinated biphenyl residues in milk of environmentally and experimentally contaminated cows.

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues have been found in the milk of cows. In some instances the residue levels exceeded the FDA guideline 0.2 ppm in milk (equivalent to 5.0 ppm in milk, fat), and the milk was removed from the market. The major source of PCB residues in milk is Aroclor 1254 that has been used in coatings for concrete silos. Aroclor 1254 is unaltered in silos, and most of the contamination is adjacent to the walls (1, 2). We have observed a number of farms with PCB-treated silos and have fed Aroclor 1254 to cows under controlled conditions. This paper summarizes our major findings.

Photochemical Degradation of Chlorobiphenyls (PCBs)

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are stable towards oxidation, hydrolysis and other chemical reactions which conceivably occur in the environment. Although there is little direct evidence available, it is generally assumed that PCBs, particularly those with a high chlorine content, are also quite resistant to metabolic change. Over the past years photochemical degradation was shown to be a possible major route of environmental breakdown for a number of pesticides (1-4). Until relatively recently (5), however, simple chloroarornatic compounds have not received much attention. The limited interest of photochemists in compounds of this type can perhaps be explained by the commonly held view that there is generally little cleavage of the C-Cl bond in chloroaromatic compounds (6). We have previously shown (7) that 2,2',4,4', 6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl, when irradiated at 3100 A in hexane, photolyzes rather readily to give products which are formed by loss of chlorine, rearrangement and condensation. We now wish to present a first report of our studies on the photochemical stability of a number of chlorobiphenyl isomers in hexane as well as on the breakdown of chlorobiphenyls under natural and simulated "natural conditions", with particular emphasis on polar products. Considerable experience in laboratory irradiations of pesticides has accumulated (1, 3, 8) and an elaborate "weathering chamber", which also allows controlled irradiation, has been described

Polychlorinated biphenyl interactions with tissue culture cells.

Abstract: The successful use of tissue culture cells in biological work is now almost 60 years old. However, the applicability or the \"fitness\" of these cells to demonstrate biological principals is still debated. It is well known that many of the cell lines bear little resemblance to the parent tissue or organ cells. Yet isolated functional cells of serially-propagated clonal strains, that can perform specialized, organ-specific functions for prolonged periods, have been produced in nearly limitless numbers (1). The loss of specific function has been ascribed to (i) selective overgrowth by connective tissue cells, (ii) a phenotypic change in the cultured cells, or (iii) inadequate or harmful environmental conditions (2). In order to circumvent these problems, primary cell lines are used and tested before the line \"adapts\" to culture conditions through aneuploidy or other means. The use of tissue culture cells for the examination of environmental chemicals has been relatively recent (3). The effects measured have been (i) inhibitory dose, (ii) toxic dose, (iii) cytotoxic effects, and (iv) chromosome aberrations. Samuel (4) has used both established and primary cell lines also to study the metabolism of certain pesticides. Litterst and Lichtenstein (3) using HeLa cells and a cell line of non-malignant origin found that the interaction of DDT and PCBs (Aroclor 1254) that had been found in ffies was absent. They concluded that the various

Biological Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Rats and Quail

Abstract: Estrogenic activity was assessed by determining the stimulation of the uterine glycogen response of the immature rat uterus 18 hours after administration of the test compound(1). The potency of active compounds is reported in terms of the minimal subcutaneous dose which will increase glycogen to a level significantly different from control. In a series of 11 polychlorinated biphenyls and terphenyls, the compounds containing up to 48% chlorine were estrogenically active (Table 1). A polychlorinated terphenyl containing 42% chlorine was found to be 8 times more active. This is a low level of estrogenic activity and probably arises from hydroxylated metabolites during in vivo metabolism.

Contamination of the Bay of Fundy-Gulf of Maine area with Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated Terphenyls, Chlorinated Dibenzodioxins, and Dibenzofurans.

Abstract: The procedure used to determine polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs), chlorinated dibenzodioxins, and chlorinated dibenzofurans is outlined in Table 1. It is based on the cleanup-chromatography of Holden and Marsden (1), modified as described (2). Most PCBs are eluted in fraction I. Fraction II contains some PCBs, p , p'-DDE, and PCTs, whereas heptachlor exposide, dieldrin, endrin, p,p'-DDD, and p,p '-DDT are eluted in fraction III. Fractions I and II are further chromatographed on alumina, essentially according to Porter and Burke (3), to determine chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans. PCTs, hexaand octachlorodibenzodioxin, and octachlorodibenzofuran were quantified by gas chromatography on 3% OV-210 on Chromosorb WAW 60/80 in a 6 ft X 4 mm column at 200'C. A 4% SE-30 column was used to quantify PCBs, chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, di-, tri-, and tetrachlorodibenzofuran. Recovery of PCBs and chlorinated hydrocarbon

Photochemical Degradation of Chloro-biphenyls (PCBs)

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are stable towards oxidation, hydrolysis and other chemical reactions which conceivably occur in the environment. Although there is little direct evidence available, it is generally assumed that PCBs, particularly those with a high chlorine content, are also quite resistant to metabolic change. Over the past years photochemical degradation was shown to be a possible major route of environmental breakdown for a number of pesticides (1-4). Until relatively recently (5), however, simple chloroarornatic compounds have not received much attention. The limited interest of photochemists in compounds of this type can perhaps be explained by the commonly held view that there is generally little cleavage of the C-Cl bond in chloroaromatic compounds (6). We have previously shown (7) that 2,2',4,4', 6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl, when irradiated at 3100 i in hexane, photolyzes rather readily to give products which are formed by loss of chlorine, rearrangement and condensation. We now wish to present a first report of our studies on the photochemical stability of a number of chlorobiphenyl isomers in hexane as well as on the breakdown of chlorobiphenyls under natural and simulated \"natural conditions\", with particular emphasis on polar products. Considerable experience in laboratory irradiations of pesticides has accumulated (1, 3, 8) and an elaborate \"weathering chamber\", which also allows controlled irradiation, has been described

Environmental aspects of microwave radiation.

Abstract: Microwaves are electromagnetic waves which fail in the frequency range of approximately 30-300,000 MHz. The location of the microwave band in the electromagnetic spectrum is shown in Fig. 1. From the relation X = c/l), (where X is the wavelength of the radiation, c is the speed of light, and is the frequency) the range of the wavelength of the radiation in free space is determined to be 1000 centimeters-to 0.1 centimeter. Microwaves are often referred to as nonionizing radiation. Using the relationship, E = hp, (where h = Planck constant = 4.135 e.v.-sec) the energy per photon of the radiation can be calculated. For the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the energy per photon ranges from 1.24 x 10-3 to 1.24 x 10-7 e.v. Since the ionization energy for atoms is of the order of 1 e.v., it can readily be seen that microwaves cannot ionize the atom. Therefore, any interaction between microwaves and biological material would be by a mechanism other than ionization. The best understood mechanism of interaction of microwave radiation and biological material is the absorption of the microwave energy with a resulting increase in temperature of the biological specimen. The amount of energy absorbed depends on the electrical properties of the specimen. The two electrical properties of importance are the dielectric

PCB and the Paper Industry—A Progress Report

Abstract: The paper industry's experiences with PCBs were chronologically reviewed at a recent "PCB Workshop" sponsored by the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc. (1). This history goes back somewhat over a year, at which time two paperboard manufacturers were apprised of the presence of PCBs in folding cartons for packaging dried fruit. These two manufacturers immediately began searching for the source of the PCB contamination, screening all converting materials used in making cartons from the paperboard. These materials, including printing inks, varnishes and adhesives, proved not to be the source of the contamination. Examination of the fibrous materials used in the paperboard showed the source of PCB contamination to be some of the paperstocks used in manufacturing the paperboard. Certain high quality white and colored paperstock grades, such as ledger papers, were found to contain carbonless carbon papers which were the source of the PCBs. PCBs at that time were used as one component of the dye carrier in the carbonless carbon paper system.

Recent Fluctuations of Chlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, Region.

Abstract: During the past six years, Wisconsin and Michigan have maintained a major stocking program for trout and salmon in Lake Michigan in an effort to re-establish a sport fisheries, and to control nuisance fish, such as the alewife. In 1969, Veith and Lee (1) found these large predators contained chlorobiphenyls (PCBs) at concentrations ranging from 10 to 25 ,g/gm (fresh weightas Aroclor 1254). Furthermore, the coho salmon eggs contained 12 to 17 gig/gm PCBs (fresh weight) which, based on the results of Johansson et al. (2) suggest that the PCBs may contribute to the poor reproductive success of the stocked fish in Lake Michigan. The seizure of fish from Lake Michigan, because of the presence of chlorinated pesticides and PCBs at concentrations greater than that regarded as safe for human consumption, has demonstrated that the continuous input of trace quantities of these chemicals may jeopardize major food resources for man, if proper management of hazardous chemicals is not practiced. There are numerous examples of the aqueous transport of PCBs originating from industrial and sanitary wastes (3, 4). Veith and Lee (5) reported the presence of PCBs in sanitary wastes of all