1977 Use and manufacture of PCBs restricted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. PCBs continue to be manufactured and sold overseas 1978 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between U.S. and Canada calls for virtual elimination of persistent toxic substances from Great Lakes basin. Manufacture of PCB's banned in the U.S., but not their use or storage. 1982 DES is shown to cause developmental abnormalities and vaginal cancer in female mice. Responding to public concern over dioxin contamination at Times Beach, Love Canal, Jacksonville and other sites, the U.S. Congress directs the EPA to conduct a National Dioxin Study to determine the extent of contamination nationwide.
Presentations address the effects of environmental estrogens on puberty in young children.
Also noted is the ubiquitous nature of the contaminants, their potency and their potential impact on public and environmental health. 1986 Documents are leaked to Greenpeace showing EPA agreed to demands from the paper industry to keep results of National Dioxin Survey secret. Under threat of lawsuit, EPA releases National Dioxin Survey. Paper industry pressures EPA to reconsider its 1985 Dioxin Risk Assessment in hopes of obtaining a less damaging judgment on dioxin's health effects. 1988 EPA begins its first reassessment of dioxin.