by Fred L. Lofsvold

be 1,200 miles from headquarters and must handle any problem he encounters.

The territory through which the inspectors travel today failed to impress one early visitor, a newspaper reporter who accompanied General George Crook on his 1876 campaign against the Sioux. He found the area lacking "several essentials toward making it reasonably habitable. First water, second timber, third climate." He concluded that if the country had any value at all, it would be as a "mammoth cattle range." His comments on this large geographic expanse once vaguely known as the Great American Desert were accurate until the development of dry farming techniques and new varieties of plants that made possible vast acreages of grain, beans, peas, mustard seed, and other crops. Neither did he anticipate the irrigation projects that have turned large tracts of semidesert into productive farmland.

Food production is an important part of the economy of the entire region. As predicted by the 1876 traveler, beef cattle and sheep are important products. Although trail herds of longhorns are long since gone, many cattle still are raised on the range. In addition, large numbers are fattened in feedlots for local slaughter or shipment to meat packing centers in other States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has primary responsibility for inspecting meats and meat products, with the exception of buffalo raised for meat on Wyoming ranches which are the responsibility of FDA. To achieve an effective inspection of buffalo meat, we have an agreement with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture under which the excellent Meat Inspection Service of that agency has assumed responsibility.

Other aspects of the livestock industry also require FDA attention. Three large and several small establishments making veterinary drugs are regularly inspected and samples of their output examined in the laboratory. Many veterinary drugs are administered in medicated feed for prophylaxis or growth promotion. These feeds must be accurately compounded to produce the desired effect in the animal and to minimize the hazard of residues in the meat, milk, and eggs consumed by humans. In all five States the departments of agriculture have active programs in medicated feeds. The District has entered into agreements with them in which they assume primary responsibility for the inspections and sample analyses needed to control these products.

Since feed materials are subject to contamination with pesticides during growing or storage, the District regularly checks such products for pesticide residues. In coordination with State agencies, District Inspectors collect samples of hay, grain, and agricultural byproducts to determine their pesticide residue content. The byproducts from agricultural industries such as seed production have caused occasional problems. When a crop is raised only for seed purposes, it is a common practice to use amounts of pesticides that would be excessive for a food crop. Normally the byproducts,

such as screenings, stems, and leaves, are discarded; but occasionally some are used for animal feed. This results in high residues in the feed materials which often carry over into the edible products. State, Federal, and industry agencies have publicized this problem and instances of use of these high residue byproducts are now infrequent.

Other pesticide surveillance is directed toward fruits, vegetables, milk, dairy products, and other human foods. In this work, too, the District coordinates its efforts with State agencies. Through a combined State and Federal effort of surveillance and industry education, we have reduced the incidence of high residue products going to market.

Storage of raw agricultural products, such as dried beans, dried peas, and wheat, present several problems. Rodents, insects, and birds may invade the storage warehouses and contaminate the products. Materials used for controlling these pests, if not properly handled, may cause hazardous situations. In recent years, budget restrictions have reduced the District efforts in handling these problems, but State agencies have taken up the slack to the extent that their resources permit.

A recent instance illustrates how State and Federal agencies cooperate successfully to solve a problem. The State of Washington Department of Agriculture conducts routine examinations of wheat being shipped into the State for milling. When the department's analyses showed that wheat from a Montana elevator bore excessive residues of methoxychlor, the information was furnished to FDA. Denver District Inspectors found that the elevator employees had used too much of the pesticide in spraying wheat in the elevator, and over 300,000 bushels of wheat contained residues far in excess of the permitted amount. Rather than seek a Federal court injunction to prevent use of the contaminated wheat, the District sought the assistance of

District lab personnel perform numerous scientific tasks which are basic to many District activities. (1) A special study to determine the presence of heavy metals in vegetables requires the use of the atomic absorption spectrophotometer, being operated here by a District chemist. (2) A microbiological technician tests a prepared potato product for the presence of E. coli and other microbiological contamination. (3) A chemist grinds a fish as the first step in the process to determine the presence of pesticide residues. (4) Another chemist checks a corn extraction-part of the process in an aflatoxin examination. (5) District Chemist Robert Munns (left), and Michael Oliva (right), Chief of the Injury Study Unit, examine an imported charcoal cooking unit for possible health hazards such as the presence of lead being used in the unit's lining, and the effects of gas produced by burning charcoal. (6) In an Idaho warehouse, a District Inspector uses his black light to check bagged pinto beans for rodent contamination. (7) Members of the Denver District staff pose against a scenic mountain background for this informal portrait (left to right): Donald M. Taylor, Food and Drug Officer; Ezell B. Kinsey, Administrative Assistant; William A. Grahm, Acting Chief Chemist; John J. Cox, Chief Inspector; and Fred L. Lofsvold, District Director. (8) An inspector in a frozen french fried potatoes plant in Idaho collects an aseptic sample to check for any bacterial contamination.

the Montana State Health Department, which embargoed the material to prevent its distribution. The Montana Department of Agriculture then worked with the owners of the wheat to devise a method of salvage. After tests showed that the pesticide residues were concentrated in the upper part of the bins, this material was skimmed off by vacuum and the remaining portion released. The skimmings were denatured so they could be used only for seed purposes.

Although many of the products of farms and ranches may be shipped to other parts of the country for consumption and processing, much of these crops remains in the region, where it serves as raw material for the food manufacturing and processing industry. These establishments supply not only the needs of the local population, but also send their products throughout the country and throughout the world. Although there is almost every type of food industry in the Denver District, certain types of food processing are rather peculiar to the area. For example, in recent years the famous Idaho potato has more often gone to market in the form of frozen french fries or instant mashed potatoes than in its original raw state. In 1968, the 22 factories in Idaho processed almost 60 percent of the 31⁄2 billion pounds of potatoes grown there. This output of frozen and dried potato products was 52 percent of the United States production.

As with all convenience foods, scrupulous sanitation is required to eliminate the potential hazards of bacterial food poisoning. Working with the industry association and individual companies, the District has conducted an educational campaign to acquaint management, quality control personnel, and production

(9) Dwarfed by the gigantic cooking kettles in a Colorado brewery, a District Inspector visually examines hops for the presence of molds that may produce mycotoxin. (10) District Director Lofsvold (far left) confers with State officials and a District staff member (left to right): Merle Morrish, Chief, Division of Inspection and Consumer Services, Colorado Department of Agriculture; Robert Swan, Feed Specialist, Wyoming Department of Agriculture; John W. Gilmore, Supervisory Inspector, Denver District; Waldo Anderson, Supervisor, Feed and Fertilizer Section, Division of Inspection and Consumer Services, Colorado Department of Agriculture. (11) A District Inspector takes a sample of corn silage from a Colorado feed mill silage storage area. The sample will be tested for the presence of pesticide residues. The silage is stored under the plastic in order to keep it from drying out while partial fermentation takes place. (12) Colors which will be used in manufacturing candy are checked for FDA certification by a District Inspector in the raw storage area of a Colorado candy plant. (13) It may look like an art critic examining an avant-garde sculpture, but in reality it's a District Inspector checking cheese vat agitators for cleanliness in an Idaho dairy products processing plant. (14) A huge tank used for mixing drugs in a District veterinary drug plant is checked by an inspector for any residues of previous drugs. (15) The owner of this Idaho trout farm discusses operations of the plant with a District Inspector (in coveralls). Employees in the background are seining fish before sorting them into water bins (left). (16) A District Inspector checks recording thermometers at a powdered milk plant. The cylindrical pipes in the background are condensers.

workers with the necessity of operating sanitary factories. Industry response has been excellent and the general condition of the industry has vastly improved over that which prevailed in early years of this industry.

Another industry that comes under District regulation is the production of frozen trout. Hatcheries and packing plants in Idaho and Utah in 1968 produced 3 million pounds of frozen dressed trout, over 85 percent of the total United States production. In many of these establishments the operation is completely integrated, from the hatching of the trout eggs to the packaging of the frozen fish. Some of the larger establishments prepare their own specialized feeding formulas containing various medications to produce the largest fish in the shortest possible time. Periodic inspections and sample examinations are included in the District workplans to assure that the marketed fish are free from drug residues and have been produced under satisfactory sanitary conditions.

As might be expected, the drug industry is relatively small in this area where agriculture plays such a predominant role. In recent years, however, three fairly large establishments manufacturing drugs and devices for human use have been built. Since attention to these firms plus the many smaller drug businesses is not a heavy workload, the District has been able to provide analytical support to other Districts which have workloads in excess of their manpower resources. This has been an excellent program for all Districts, since the Denver chemists have a greater opportunity to develop their expertise while helping the other Districts get their work done.

In addition to the traditional FDA activities, Denver District also includes a Product Safety Unit which investigates injuries associated with various household products. These include such diverse articles as power tools, home vaporizers, small household appliances, and other things used in or around the home. Occasionally the products are rather exotic, such as a brass Mongolian food cooker which was potentially dangerous because of high lead content in the solder used. to put it together and because it was designed to burn charcoal indoors, where there is a possibility of asphyxiation from carbon monoxide. Since there is no Federal law covering the safety of such articles, the findings of the Product Safety Unit are utilized to bring about voluntary correction of hazards.

In the 1910 Annual Report, Dr. Wiley was concerned about chemicals in food, pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables, bacterial contamination of eggs and milk products, and drugs that did not meet standards. These potential health hazards, in somewhat different forms, still command the attention of FDA and the public. In cooperation with State and local agencies and with the assistance of industry associations and consumer organizations, Denver District will continue. to seek solutions to these and other problems of consumer protection.

A Twilight
for Persistent

Pesticides

the Secretary last April, summarized its report and made 14 recommendations calling for, among other things, increased cooperation and

by Lessel L. Ramsey coordination among DHEW and the

series of far-reaching rec

ommendations that would

impose tighter governmen

tal controls over and restrict the use of the so-called persistent pesticides was released in mid-November by Secretary Robert H. Finch of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare upon the issuance of Part I of a report by the Secretary's Commission on Pesticides and Their Relationship to Environmental Health.

Departments of Agriculture and Interior in dealing with problems caused by the use of pesticides and for further integration of the various pesticide activities within DHEW itself. The Commission also recommended that DDT and DDD be restricted within two years to only those uses essential to human health or welfare and suggested restricted use of other pesticides that remain persistent in the environment long after use.

The Chairman of the Commission is Dr. Emil M. Mrak, Chancellor Emeritus of the University of California at Davis. Part II of the Commission's report consists of review of over 5,000 references to scientific research and full presentation of the findings of several subcommittees and panels appointed to study various aspects of the problem.

The significance of the Commission report and Secretary Finch's announcement of departmental plans should be considered against the background of major developments in the pesticides area beginning in 1962.

The general public did not appear to be concerned, or even aware of a pesticide problem until the publication in 1962 of a book called Silent Spring by the late biologist Rachel Carson. This book has been translated into several languages and has had worldwide readership. It and the wide concern it caused influenced President Kennedy in appointment of a President's Science Advisory Committee which issued a report entitled "Use of Pesticides" on May 15, 1963. Although this report recognized the gains in food The Commission, appointed by production and disease control at

In releasing the recommendations, Secretary Finch also announced departmental plans to implement some of them, including revision of an existing agreement with two other Government departments.

tributable to the use of pesticides, it nevertheless recommended, among other things, that "the accretion of residues in the environment be controlled by orderly reduction in the use of persistent pesticides" and that "elimination of the use of persistent toxic pesticides should be the goal."

Immediately following the release of this report, a Senate Subcommittee headed by Senator Abraham A. Ribicoff held congressional hearings over a period of about one year on the Federal Government's role in controlling environmental contamination. The emphasis in the hearings was on the use of pesticides. Although the Ribicoff Committee "found no reliable evidence to suggest that the benefit-risk equation was presently unbalanced in any significant way," it warned that more information is needed to guarantee future balance of the benefitrisk equation and to assure public confidence.

The growing concern among toxicologists and public health officials plus the mounting pressure of public opinion stimulated by special interest groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund, the Sierra Club, and the National Audubon Society led to a number of actions to restrict the usage of DDT in 1968 and 1969. Arizona imposed a oneyear ban on DDT and Michigan took action to drastically restrict DDT usage. In several other States, bills have been introduced in the legislatures and public hearings held. Several bills to ban DDT have also been introduced into the Congress. Early in 1969 Sweden imposed a two-year ban on DDT, effective January 1, 1970, and among the reasons cited was the finding of significant residues in fish from the Baltic Sea.

Early in 1969 the National Cancer Institute released a preliminary report from a study made by the