PCB (Aroclor) Timeline

1930 – Acquires Swan Chem Co. and ships first Aroclor (PCB) laod one year later

1934 – Workers producing Aroclor develop severe dermatitis

1937 – Internal memos and academic papers indicate dangers of PCB exposure include liver damage and chloracne

1944 – Company begins giving salesmen info on dangers of PCBs

1949 – Company warned of damage to repeated exposure of small amounts

1957 – Navy tests result in deaths of all test subjects and “definite liver damage”

1958-1961 – Two customers complain of inadequate labeling and express concern over toxicity

1962 – Company assures government that labeling is adequate and proper

1966 – Swedish study indicates PCBs found in humans, birds, and fish

1969 – Company learns of 1,000 Japanese who become very ill after ingesting rice oil contaminated with PCBs

1969 – Internal committe notes that PCB is both contaminant and toxic to man

1970 – Company announces it will only sell to certain uses because it causes birth defects in animals

1970 – Congressman Ryan calls for ban in light of public studies

1972 – Company agrees to only sell for use in closed-systems

1975 – Several studies classify PCBs as carcinogenic; Monsanto’s contractor finds them tumerigenic, maintaining a narrow view of what is carcinogenic

1975 – Informs customer that in “40 years” there has yet to been shown “human harm”

1975 – Company agrees to phase out Aroclor

1979 – EPA issues complete ban against the manufacturing of PCBs