February 9, 197?

5lg? 747-33?Pocetcky 5'8 792 3 -

Industrial and Power Capacitor
Products .

General Electric Comoany

John Street

?Hudaon Falls. New York 1?839

Mr. E. L. Raab

Distribution Transformer Department
General-Electric 

100 Avenue

Pittaficld. Massachusetts 01?01



Gentlemen:

Attached to Quectlon and Answer Itnt for responding to
PCB inquiries which I offered to nail to you at our
December 10th C-IOT meeting.

I recognize that the list is not comwletc but I it
will serve an a good start with further additions made by
your committees. should any hclo be required
from Honsanto in responding to additional please
let me know. - -

?61ncercly,

v. B. 
Manager. Environmental

Protection .
/hg - - -
attachment 
Nev 02?59?
cc: Meanrn: A. H. Salazar - 
P. G. absc-
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1.

'9

Questions end Answers'ror ANSI




Question


what it 

Answer

PCB are initiele which stand for 

is a family of chlorinated hydrocarbons which have long

been used as a fire-resistant safety fluid in electrical
components.? .

Question

PCD in Askarel?

Answer


Aekorel is a generic name for the PCB-containinq fluids used
in electrical transformers and capacitorn. Individual
cloctricnl equipment manufacturers have different trade names
which deocribe.their specific fluid.

Question

Explain the current environmental flop over PCB.
Answer I

In the mid-60's; selentific instruments became Ioohiaticeted
to the point where ports-ner-million or even oorce-per-billion
of eubntance could be detected in the environment.

Swedish eeientiete. looking for DDT. encountered "interrerring
in their laboratory nnelyoee. These substances
they identified an PCB. 

Bubnequently other Icientinte in.otber ports of the world

looked for and round PCB in a variety of candles; thus leading
to the conclusion that PCB exieto in the worldwide environment.

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32p chationn and.Answerq??or ANSI 

h.

5.

6.

Question

Ho? does PCB get into the environment?

Answer


Probably through.improncr handling, use and dieaanal. A
cited accident occurred in Japan in 1068 when
PCB leaked into rice oil which the Jaconene use for cooking.
cholo in the oil reached ?,000 to 3,000 parts-pcr?million.

However, it dhould be-cmahasized that when 
used and disposed of, PCB can be as safe to use as any other
chemical -- many of which are much more dangerous than PCB.

Quention'
13 P08 toxic?-
Answer

Toxicity in a relative term. Some studies have shown it is

toxic to certain snecics of birds and fish. Marc im?artant,
PCB 18 a chemical which builds up in the environ-
ment. It. therefore, should not be allowed to encape to the
environment. 

Question

boas PCB cause birth defectu?
Answer

Again. some studies have shown it can be detrementnl to the
reproductive cycles of certain species of wildlife.

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ROB Qpestions For -3.

7.

Question

Is the public in any immediate danger?
Anawer I

The Federal Government at a press conference in September,'
1971, stated emnhaticaily that the public was in no danger
tram present levels of PCB now in the environment. They
said oroner atone were being taken to reduce further escape
of PCB which would ultimately reduce even the low level:
currently being found in the environment. -

Question

?ow can PCB be disposed of?
Anrver 

Under high tannersture. controlled-incineration. PCB breaks
down into hydrochloric acid. carbon dioxide and water.

There are three commercial incineratora in the United Staten
which can handle diunnaei or used fluids. Contact your
oupniier for information about returning used fluid: for
proper disposal.

69"

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