Editing Monsanto (section)

====Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)====
Until it ended production in 1977, Monsanto was the source of 99% of the [[polychlorinated biphenyls]] (PCBs) used by U.S. industry.<ref name = "ATSDR"/> They were sold under brand names including Aroclor and Santotherm; the name Santotherm is still used for non-chlorinated products.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Mitchell D. |last1=Erickson |first2=Robert G. |last2=Kaley, II |title=Applications of polychlorinated biphenyls |journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research International |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=135–51 |publisher=Springer-Verlag |url=http://cdn.eastchem.com/therminol/Applications_of_PCBs_Erickson_Kaley_Aug2010_AuthorsProof_0.pdf |access-date=2015-03-03 |pmid=20848233 |year=2011 |doi=10.1007/s11356-010-0392-1 |bibcode=2011ESPR...18..135E |s2cid=25260209 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163101/http://cdn.eastchem.com/therminol/Applications_of_PCBs_Erickson_Kaley_Aug2010_AuthorsProof_0.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2015  }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Crompton|first=T R|title=Determination of Organic Compounds in Natural and Treated Waters|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=wIKYde_zKqMC|page=396}}|date=June 1, 2002|publisher=CRC Press|page=396|isbn=978-0-203-01635-0}}</ref> PCBs are a [[persistent organic pollutant]], and cause [[cancer]] in both animals and humans, among other health effects.<ref name="EPA Health Effects">[http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/effects.htm "Health Effects of PCBs"], U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</ref> PCBs were initially welcomed due to the electrical industry's need for durable, safer (than flammable [[mineral oil]]) cooling and insulating fluid for industrial transformers and capacitors. PCBs were also commonly used as stabilizing additives in the manufacture of flexible PVC coatings for electrical wiring and in electronic components to enhance PVC heat and fire resistance.<ref>{{cite book |title=Health Concerns and Environmental Issues with PVC-Containing Building Materials in Green Buildings |author1=Karlyn Black Kaley |author2=Jim Carlisle |author3=David Siegel |author4=Julio Salinas |publisher=Integrated Waste Management Board, California Environmental Protection Agency, USA |date=October 2006 |page=11 |url=http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/publications/GreenBuilding/43106016.pdf |access-date=October 21, 2012 |archive-date=July 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715221107/http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Publications/GreenBuilding/43106016.pdf  }}</ref> As transformer leaks occurred and toxicity problems arose near factories, their durability and toxicity became recognized as serious problems. PCB production was banned by the U.S. Congress in 1979 and by the [[Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants]] in 2001.<ref name="ATSDR">[http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp17-c5.pdf "PCBs: Production, Import/Export, Use, and Disposal"], Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, at 467.</ref><ref name="EPA2">{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/region2/pcbs/index.html|title=PCB's in NYC Schools – Region 2 – US EPA|date=January 29, 2013 |access-date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906133728/http://www.epa.gov/region02/pcbs/index.html|archive-date=September 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name="EPA">[https://web.archive.org/web/20150627014048/http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/international/agreements/ "International Agreements and Treaties on Pesticides"], Pesticides: International Activities, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Archived from [http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/international/agreements/ the original] on June 27, 2015.</ref>