Thirty-one years have passed since the United States Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) [1]. The 1976 law essentially eliminated future production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) within the United States and greatly limited the use of previously manufactured PCBs and PCB products. The ultimate objective of the law was the complete elimination of these chemicals due to concerns about their potentially toxic effects on health and the environment. PCBs were manufactured in the United States between 1929 and 1977. They were highly valued for their fire and heat-resistance properties and for their chemical stability. As a result, PCBs were used in a variety of thermally and/or chemically stressful applications. They did not conduct electricity and therefore were particularly well-suited for use as insulating fluids in high-voltage electric equipment. PCBs were also used in various other applications, such as in hydraulic and heat transfer fluids. Strict controls on the use and disposal of PCBs were imposed by the TSCA implementing regulations at 40 CFR 761 [2]. As a result, most heavy users of PCB products worked hard to curtail their PCB use. Many organizations that once used substantial amounts of PCBs, subsequently declared themselves ''PCB free''. Unfortunately, in many …

Rising concentrations of atmospheric CO{sub 2} and O{sub 3} are altering the structure and function of forest ecosystems. Herbivorous insects are the major consumers in temperate deciduous forests, with the capacity to dramatically alter tree growth (via outbreaks), forest community composition and ecosystem dynamics (e.g., nutrient cycling). Until recently, however, experimental quantification of the impacts of CO{sub 2} and O{sub 3} on canopy herbivore communities and rates of defoliation and nutrient flux has not been addressed. This research, conducted at the Aspen FACE (Free Air CO{sub 2} Enrichment) facility in northern Wisconsin, U.S.A., evaluated the independent and interactive effects of CO{sub 2} and O{sub 3} on (1) the abundance and diversity of forest canopy insect communities, and (2) rates of insect herbivory and transfer of material (leaf greenfall and insect frass) from the canopy to the forest floor. Results of studies of individual insects revealed that elevated CO{sub 2} and O{sub 3} influence the performance of individual species of damaging insect pests, but the magnitude of impact is influenced by both insect species and their host tree species. Censuses of canopy insects showed that some species were positively affected, some negatively affected, and some not affected by elevated CO{sub 2} …