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Researchers confirm biodegradability of PCBs
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Proof that microbes are changing Heavily substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have the the composition of the PCB mixs reputation of being extraordinarily tures comes from James M. Tiedje's persistent in the environment, have lab in the department of crop and soil sciences at Michigan State. ο now for the first time been proven to be biodegradable. Michigan State Microorganisms from Hudson RivUniversity researchers have con- er sediments strip chlorine atoms firmed in their lab the hypothesis from the meta and para positions of of General Electric scientists that PCBs, Tiedje's associate John F. anaerobic bacteria are dechlorinating Quenson III told last week's meeting of the Society of Environmental PCBs in Hudson River sediments. But New York State environmen- Toxicology & Chemistry in Arlingtal officials, calling the outcome of ton, Va. The ortho-substituted isobiodégradation too uncertain, are mers that are left are much less toxnearing a decision to purge a 40-mile ic. The Michigan State work was stretch of the river of PCBs by funded by GE and has been recently dredging. The upper Hudson River published in Science [242,752 (1988)]. "These results offer evidence that is contaminated with PCBs, much bacteria in the river are stripping of them discharged from GE capaciSakharov: entering a new era some PCBs of their toxicity," says tor factories in the 1950s and 1960s. "And pluralist changes have begun Researchers at GE's R&D Center Stephen B. Hamilton, GE's manager to take place," in accordance with in Schenectady, N.Y., proposed last of environmental science and toxichis longtime prediction of conver- year that anaerobic microorganisms ity. "Our long-term goal is to degence between the Soviet commu- in the muddy bottom are dechlor- velop science and engineering to nist system and other systems in inating and detoxifying the most make use of this in cleaning up the world. highly substituted PCBs. Their re- PCB contamination." Some Western observers wonder port was met with skepticism by New York State appears unwillif perestroïka will create a stronger New York State scientists. ing to wait, however. AdministraSoviet Union that is more of a threat to Western interests, raising doubts ο about whether the West should help t in the reforms. Sakharov stresses w that the West has a vital interest in S S encouraging the reforms. Perestroïka is only a threat to the West if it fails, he says, re-entrenching in power the conservative enemies of reform. As for scientists, perestroïka has opened up genuinely new ways of scientific cooperation, he believes. U.S. scientists should promote such international cooperation and help in achieving the reforms. However, they should do this "not in a naive way," but "with eyes open, with the care of a sober and demanding friend." Or as a U.S. businessman said to him, "we have to be assured ACS hosts group from Japanese petrochemical industry that our money will not simply dissolve into the sand." Three of about 14 representatives of the Japan Petrochemical Industry AssociaSakharov completed the public tion are served tea during a recent visit to American Chemical Society portion of his trip last week, and headquarters, as part of a U.S. visit to study chemical public information this week is visiting with his famiprograms in the U.S. Heading the Japanese team was Hiroki Saigenji. The team ly in Boston. At press time, it was was briefed on ACS's primary and secondary education efforts and an ACS not yet clear whether he might exprogram to brighten the image of the chemical industry in the U.S. Speaking to tend his stay beyond three weeks the Japanese team were ACS communications director Patrick McCurdy, public to receive medical treatment for a relations chief Vincent Tocci, and education division staffers Martha Turckes heart condition. and Ann Benbow. Richard Seltzer November 21, 1988 C&EN
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News of the Week tive law judge Daniel E. Louis recently recommended that the state go ahead with its plan to dredge contaminated river sediment and place it in a landfill. "The judge found dredging is the most appropriate remedy/' says R. W. Groneman, spokesman for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). "He rejected as unacceptable an alternative proposed by GE to leave the PCBs in place. Biodégradation has an uncertain outcome and uncertain time course." The dredging project still must be approved by the state's hazardous waste siting board and DEC commissioner Thomas Jorling. Their decisions are expected by Jan. 3, 1989. The project would remove about 360,000 cubic yards of river sediment at a cost of about $40
million—half from the state and half from the federal government. "GE's position is not so much to oppose the dredging, but we think there may be a better way to remove PCBs that's more in tune with nature," says GE corporate press representative Jack Blatty. Because of an earlier settlement with the state and an agreement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, GE is not liable for the cost of the dredging project. However, once the PCB-laden sediments are moved to a landfill, GE may be considered a potentially responsible party under Superfund, says EPA Region II specialist Herman Phillips. "GE is still not off the hook," he says. "Whatever gets dredged out of the river may be addressed by Superfund." Pamela Zurer
Genetically engineered mice to be marketed Early next year, Du Pont will begin marketing mice with cancer-causing genes (oncogenes) inserted into their cells. Aimed at cancer research, these animals—to be marketed under the tradename OncoMice—are the first to be commercialized under the first patent ever granted for genetically engineered animals (C&EN, April 18, page 12). The mice are expected to be useful for studies of cancer development, screening of anticancer drugs, and testing of compounds for carcinogenicity. Because the mice provide close models of cancer development, fewer animals may be needed for each such study than is now the case. The company, through its medical products department, will sell the mice initially to academic and government labs at less than commercial prices. Du Pont has not yet set pricing policies, but such sales to nonprofit labs may be at less than $50 per mouse. In a sense, the mice are seen as an additional research tool in a line of offerings that includes radiochemicals, lab centrifuges, and a DNA sequencer. The first mice to be shipped will bear an oncogene called Ha-ras. The company plans to introduce two other strains with the myc and neu 6
November 21, 1988 C&EN
oncogenes later in 1989. The oncogenes are linked to a deoxyribonucleic acid promoter sequence isolated from mouse mammary tumor virus. The promoter sequence triggers expression of the oncogene in response to hormones in lactating mammary tissues. Thus, although the oncogenes are located in every cell in the body, they lie dormant until the mice are bred, after which the mice will develop breast cancer within 90 days. The first mice in the strains to be marketed were created by genetics professor Philip Leder and research associate Timothy A. Stewart at Harvard Medical School, who patented the animals. Du Pont sponsored their work and so has exclusive rights to the patent. The two geneticists cloned the oncogene-promoter sequence DNA in bacteria cultures, injected the DNAs into fertilized mouse ova, and inserted the ova into uteri of surrogate mothers. The Harvard workers sent the mice to Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, Mass., which will breed them and ship offspring under contract with Du Pont. Offspring will inherit the oncogenes without further need for genetic engineering. Stephen Stinson
DOD frets over R&D lag in superconductors Although superconducting materials hold significant promise for a wide range of military applications, the U.S. may well face the undesirable prospect of having to purchase such materials from foreign sources, notably Japan. That's what the future holds, according to a Defense Science Board task force, unless the Department of Defense substantially increases its R&D support for superconducting materials. The task force's report points out that the Japanese R&D effort in superconductors amounts to about $208 million in the current fiscal year. That amount is substantially more than the total $145 million devoted to supercondutor research by the U.S. government and U.S. companies combined in fiscal 1988. To remedy this situation, the task force recommends an aggressive superconductor R&D program that would more than double DOD's fiscal 1989 $120 million program by 1993. If that recommendation were accepted, it would commit DOD to spend $1 billion on superconductor research between 1988 and 1993. DOD, so far, has not indicated whether this recommended funding increase will be endorsed starting with its fiscal 1990 b u d g e t proposal. The task force says that DOD's R&D effort should be balanced between exploitation of old low-temperature superconducting materials and d e v e l o p m e n t of n e w hightemperature superconducting materials. Specifically, it recommends expanded efforts in superconductor theory and basic research to provide the fundamental understanding of the new materials needed to guide applied research. It also recommends a vigorous engineering model program that would demonstrate the substantial performance advantages achievable with superconducting materials. This includes engineering models of a space surveillance system, a mine detector, a hypersonic tank gun, an undersea magnetohydrodynamic propulsion system, and a millirïieter-wave radar. Janice Long
