Dioxin

==

promoted to 2ndary mebbe prematurely 4/16

AR tag

AG ~ CPP

SEE CANCER

SEE INCINERATOR SOLID WASTE

ENTINE JOHN GRAHAM

PATRICK MOORE

CONTEXT?

May 11, 2026

Zeldin’s EPA Is Letting Trash Incinerators Poison Children. Now It’s Being Sued

Weak federal rules allow incinerators to release cancer-causing pollutants into communities of color, harming children’s development before they are even born

Contacts

Robert Valencia, rvalencia@earthjustice.org

Legal document

Washington, D.C. —

Community groups from multiple states today sued the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to establish strong emission rules for municipal solid waste incinerators, large facilities that burn trash for profit and release mercury, lead, dioxins, and other cancer-causing pollutants into neighborhoods across the country.

The lawsuit, filed by Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project on behalf of Sierra Club, Ironbound Community Corporation, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, South Baltimore Community Land Trust, and Florida Rising, argues that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s agency has defied the Clean Air Act by setting incinerator emission standards far weaker than what modern pollution controls can achieve and far weaker than the law requires.

“These incinerators are burning garbage and releasing poisons that cause cancer and can harm children’s development,” said Jonathan Smith, Earthjustice attorney. “Every day that the agency delays strong standards, families in places like Newark, South Baltimore, and across Florida pay the price with their health because corporations want to save some money instead of doing right for the surrounding communities.”

Municipal solid waste incinerators are among the largest sources of dioxin pollution in the United States. Dioxins are potent carcinogens with no safe level of exposure, capable of causing permanent harm to a child’s development even before birth. These same smokestacks release mercury, arsenic, and cadmium — dangerous pollutants linked to cancer, heart disease, and lifelong developmental damage. Yet despite the well-documented risks, the EPA failed to strengthen its regulations, leaving communities to bear the health consequences while companies continue to profit.

Incinerators are spread across the country, but their impacts are not felt equally. In Newark, Covanta’s Essex facility, located in a community where 78% of residents are people of color, emitted more than two million pounds of air pollutants in 2020 alone. In South Baltimore, the BRESCO incinerator towers over a predominantly Black neighborhood. People throughout Florida are dealing not only with the current, polluting incinerators in their backyards, but also the threat of new incinerators being placed in their communities.

Quotes from our clients and partners

“Our children grow up breathing some of the most polluted air in California. Weak federal rules let incinerator corporations off the hook while our families pay with their health,” said Andrea Luna, policy analyst at East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice. “Corporations should not be allowed to profit from poisoning us.”

“Floridians watched a Reworld incinerator burn for weeks and breathed the smoke. We filed complaints, we showed up, and we were ignored,” said MacKenzie Marcelin, deputy campaigns director, Florida Rising. “The Zeldin EPA’s failure to protect us is an injustice that falls hardest on communities that need their help the most.”

“Ironbound residents live with elevated asthma rates, cancer diagnoses, and the daily reality of what comes out of that smokestack,” said Alejandra Torres, assistant director of organizing and advocacy at the Ironbound Community Corporation. “Our community should not have to go to court every time we want a company or the government to follow the law.”

“The science on dioxins, lead and mercury is not in dispute, these chemicals cause cancer, interrupt healthy brain development, and harm children the most,” said Jane Williams, chair of the Sierra Club’s National Clean Air Team. Communities hosting these facilities, which are often environmental justice communities, have waited decades for the clean air protections the Clean Air Act requires. EPA’s failure to adopt a rule which protects the health from these emissions is costing people their lives.”

“These incinerators have been operating under illegal standards for decades while families in nearby communities get sicker,” said Haley Lewis, senior attorney, Environmental Integrity Project. “It’s time for the EPA to stand by the communities they are meant to protect.”

Read *Decades of Denial*, Earthjustice’s report on municipal waste incinerators.

---

history EPA, dioxins etc

https://kpfa.org/episode/against-the-grain-june-24-2019/

The Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with safeguarding the public from toxic exposure.  But Jonathan Latham, executive director of the Bioscience Research Project, says that The Poison Papers — an enormous trove of documents — indicate that the EPA and the chemical industry often work hand in hand to mislead us into thinking that toxic chemicals are safe for human use. (Encore presentation.)

Resources:

The Poison Papers

Bioscience Research Project

==

poison papers history

jonathan latham

https://kpfa.org/episode/against-the-grain-october-10-2018/

10.10.18 - 12:00PM

The EPA and the Chemical Industry: A Cozy Alliance

:{AGAINST THE GRAIN:(style="box-sizing:border-box"):}:

The Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with safeguarding the public from toxic exposure.  But Jonathan Latham, executive director of the Bioscience Research Project, says that The Poison Papers — an enormous trove of documents — indicate that the EPA and the chemical industry often work hand in hand to mislead us into thinking that toxic chemicals …

==

https://www.ecowatch.com/poison-papers-epa-2466211797.html

Poison Papers Reveal EPA Collusion With Chemical Industry

By Rebekah Wilce

german co said too dangerous even to research; no US law , all ppl have them; no safe dose

==

http://www.alternet.org/environment/evidence-mounting-koch-industries-paper-plant-poisoning-people-arkansas-video

he economic pulse of Crossett, a small town of some 5,500 people in west Arkansas, has long been measured through the paper and pulp processing plant owned by the Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific. A subsidiary of Koch Industries, Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's largest manufacturers of pulp and paper products, including paper towels (like Brawny) and toilet paper (like Angel Soft).

A bulwark of the blue-collar community, Georgia-Pacific has provided generations of families with a steady stream of well-paid jobs replete with health packages and retirement plans. The plant in Crossett employs around 1,200 people, over three-quarters of whom are from the town or surrounding Ashley County. Many speculate that without the plant, Crossett would simply wither and die. But others fear that the plant has already been slowly poisoning those who live there for decades.

“People are afraid—afraid and scared to say something,” said David Bouie, who worked at the plant for about 10 years, his wife for over 25 years. They live in Crossett, and suffer respiratory and sinus problems, sore throats, nausea and allergies—symptoms, he says, that are shared among many of his neighbors.

“They don’t want to be part of something that could see the mill go away,” Bouie, 69, said. “But we don’t want the mill to go away, we just want it to be fixed and to operate within compliance of the law.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory, Georgia Pacific emits approximately 1.5 million pounds of pollutants every year, including highly toxic chemicals like dioxins, formaldehyde and naphthalene. Then there’s the 45 million gallons of wastewater Georgia-Pacific is permitted to release every day....

==

==

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Mongoven,_Biscoe_%26_Duchin/Behind_Enemy_Lines

Dioxins and furans are two very similar groups of polyhalogenated compounds that are well-known toxic and persistent pollutants. Often the term "dioxins" refers to both dioxins and furans. The most well-studied compound is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or TCDD. Dioxin is formed as a by-product of many industrial processes that involve chlorine including waste incineration, chemical and pesticide manufacturing and pulp and paper bleaching.^[1] This family includes seven of the polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs) and ten of the polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs). Another group of chemicals, polychlorinated biphenyls (:{PCBs:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}:), are also very similar to dioxins and furans.^[2] At very low levels, dioxin can change the way cells grow and develop.

 Scientists claim that one form of dioxin causes cancer in humans. Some other human health effects include reproductive problems and birth defects.^[3] Dioxins and furans are both included in Annex C in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which means that "parties must take measures to reduce the unintentional releases of chemicals listed under Annex C with the goal of continuing minimization and, where feasible, ultimate elimination."^[4] According to the President's Cancer Panel, published in May 2010, dioxins are strongly linked to lung cancer, non-hodgkin lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Additionally, they are a suspected cause of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma.^[5]

Sources of Dioxins and Furans

According to the EPA, dioxins and furans enter the environment from the incineration of municipal waste and medical waste, secondary copper smelting, forest fires, land application of :{sewage sludge:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}:, cement kilns, coal fired power plants, residential wood burning, chlorine bleaching of wood pulp, and perhaps backyard burning of household waste.^[6] According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), "sewage sludge... is the largest source for dioxin exposure in the nation after backyard trash burning."^[7] (emphasis added)

Dangerous Levels of Dioxins Found in Sewage Sludge "Compost"

In 2010, a test found 65.97 TEQ of dioxins in the sewage sludge-based "compost" product Amend, made by Kellogg Garden Products.^[8] Amend is sold at Home Depot, Lowes, and nurseries on the west coast, advertised as a compost intended for flower and use in vegetable gardens.

NRDC Calls for Stricter Regulation of Dioxins in Sewage Sludge

In 2003, the :{EPA:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}: announced that it would not regulate dioxins in :{sewage sludge:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}: applied to land as fertilizer, even when used on farms and gardens where food is grown. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) criticized this decision, saying it violates the Clean Water Act.

"Dioxins cause cancer and diabetes, as well as nervous system and hormonal problems," said Nancy Stoner, director of NRDC's Clean Water Project. "And the EPA is required by law to protect the public from toxic pollutants like dioxins. This decision shows the agency under this administration has forgotten its mission."^[9]

Stoner added:

"EPA traditionally limits public exposure to chemicals if they pose a cancer risk of one per 1 million Americans," Stoner explained. "But the risk is 1 in 10,000 from the dioxins we already have in our bodies. And cancer isn't the only problem. The EPA itself has said that the non-cancer risks of dioxins are so high that it can't even calculate a 'safe' or acceptable level of exposure. To us that says EPA should keep dioxins out of our food, and that means, among other things, regulating sewage sludge."^[10]

NRDC called on the EPA to do the following:

• "Prohibit sludge application on land used for pasture or growing forage food for livestock that will be consumed by humans;
• "Set a dioxins limit at 1 in one million cancer risk to protect public health;
• "Ban land application to sites where dioxin levels in the soil [exceed] 1 parts per trillion (based on ecological risks that cannot be alleviated by management measures, such as banning application to pasture lands, which would reduce risks to human health); and
• "Require pollution prevention programs for sludges with detectible amounts of dioxins."^[11]

Unusual Dioxins From Triclosan

The antibacterial agent triclosan, commonly found in antibacterial soaps and other household products, can break down into a number of dioxins in the environment, including 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,8-DCDD), 2,3,7-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7-TCDD), 1,2,8-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,8-TriCDD), and 1,2,3,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,3,8-TCDD).^[12] The 2010 study that revealed this found that over the last 30 years, "the levels of the four dioxins derived from triclosan have risen by 200 to 300 percent, while levels of all the other dioxins have dropped by 73 to 90 percent."^[13] Researchers say these compounds “represent a previously unrecognized and increasingly important source of di-, tri-, and tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins.”^[14]

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Sewage sludge
• Biosolids
• Food Rights Network

References

1. ↑ Dioxin Homepage, EJnet.org website, Accessed July 16, 2010.
2. ↑ U.S. EPA, Dioxins and Furans, Accessed August 6, 2010.
3. ↑ Dioxin, State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection website, Accessed July 16th, 2010.
4. ↑ The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, "What are POPs?", Accessed August 6, 2010
5. ↑ President's Cancer Panel
6. ↑ U.S. EPA, Dioxins and Furans, Accessed August 6, 2010.
7. ↑ EPA Will Not Protect Public From Dioxins In Land-Applied Sewage Sludge, Natural Resources Defense Council, October 17, 2003, Accessed May 12, 2011.
8. ↑ SFPUC Biosolids Compost Memo, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, July 27, 2010.
9. ↑ EPA Will Not Protect Public From Dioxins In Land-Applied Sewage Sludge, Natural Resources Defense Council, October 17, 2003, Accessed May 12, 2011.
10. ↑ EPA Will Not Protect Public From Dioxins In Land-Applied Sewage Sludge, Natural Resources Defense Council, October 17, 2003, Accessed May 12, 2011.
11. ↑ EPA Will Not Protect Public From Dioxins In Land-Applied Sewage Sludge, Natural Resources Defense Council, October 17, 2003, Accessed May 12, 2011.
12. ↑ Jeffrey M. Buth, Peter O. Steen, Charles Sueper, Dylan Blumentritt, Peter J. Vikesland, William A. Arnold and Kristopher McNeill, "Dioxin Photoproducts of Triclosan and Its Chlorinated Derivatives in Sediment Cores", Environmental Science & Technology, May 17, 2010, Accessed August 9, 2010.
13. ↑ "Rising Levels of Dioxins from Common Soap Ingredient in Mississippi River, Study Finds", Science Daily, May 25, 2010, Accessed August 9, 2010.
14. ↑ Janet Raloff"A new source of dioxins: Clean hands", Science News, May 18, 2010, Accessed August 9, 2010.

External resources

External articles

• Marty Coyne, "Solid Waste: EPA 'Closes Book' by Not Regulating Dioxins in Sludge," Greenwire, October 20, 2003.
• Michael Kilian, "EPA won't regulate dioxin-tainted sludge; Critics argue that risk of disease too high to ease rules," Chicago Tribune, October 18, 2003.

wiki

Toxicity

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-*p*-dioxin (TCDD) is considered the most toxic of the congeners (for the mechanism of action, see 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-*p*-dioxin and Aryl hydrocarbon receptor). Other dioxin congeners including PCDFs and PCBs with dioxin-like toxicity, are given a toxicity rating from 0 to 1, where TCDD = 1 (see Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds). This toxicity rating is called the Toxic Equivalence Factor concept, or TEF. TEFs are consensus values and, because of the strong species dependence for toxicity, are listed separately for mammals, fish, and birds. TEFs for mammalian species are generally applicable to human risk calculations. The TEFs have been developed from detailed assessment of literature data to facilitate both risk assessment and regulatory control.^[4] Many other compounds may also have dioxin-like properties, particularly non-ortho PCBs, one of which has a TEF as high as 0.1.

The total dioxin toxic equivalence (TEQ) value expresses the toxicity as if the mixture were pure TCDD. The TEQ approach and current TEFs have been adopted internationally as the most appropriate way to estimate the potential health risks of mixture of dioxins. Recent data suggest that this type of simple scaling factor may not be the most appropriate treatment for complex mixtures of dioxins; both transfer from the source and absorption and elimination vary among different congeners, and the TEF value is not able to accurately reflect this.^[27]

Dioxins and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are subject to the Stockholm Convention. The treaty obliges signatories to take measures to eliminate where possible, and minimize where not possible to eliminate, all sources of dioxin.

Health effects in humans

Dioxins build up primarily in fatty tissues over time (bioaccumulate), so even small exposures may eventually reach dangerous levels. In 1994, the US EPA reported that dioxins are a probable**carcinogen**, but noted that non-cancer effects (reproduction and sexual development, immune system) may pose a greater threat to human health. TCDD, the most toxic of the dibenzodioxins, is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). TCDD has a half-life of approximately 8 years in humans, although at high concentrations, the elimination rate is enhanced by metabolism.^[28] The health effects of dioxins are mediated by their action on a cellular receptor, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).^[29]

Exposure to high levels of dioxins in humans causes a severe form of persistent acne, known as chloracne.^[30] High occupational or accidental levels of exposures to dioxins have been shown by epidemiological studies to lead to an increased risk of tumors at all sites.^[31] Other effects in humans (at high dose levels) may include:

• Developmental abnormalities in the enamel of children's teeth.^[32][33]

• Central and peripheral nervous system pathology^[34]

• Thyroid disorders^[35]

• Damage to the immune systems^[36]

• Endometriosis^[37]

• Diabetes^[38]

Recent studies have shown that high exposure to dioxins changes the ratio of male to female births among a population such that more females are born than males.^[39]

Dioxins accumulate in food chains in a fashion similar to other chlorinated compounds (bioaccumulation). This means that even small concentrations in contaminated water can be concentrated up a food chain to dangerous levels because of the long biological half life and low water solubility of dioxins.

heartlandreview bk

Scared to Death

http://blog.heartland.org/2011/03/heartland-book-review-don%E2%80%99t-be-%E2%80%98scared-to-death%E2%80%99-of-chemicals/

The author charts every imagined environmental disaster such as **:{Times Beach:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}:** and **:{Love Canal:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}:**, every law that has been passed — and, of course, the impact of the terribly flawed book Silent Spring. Best of all, Entine unveils the manner in which the federal EPA determines how Maximum Contaminant Levels are determined for all human exposures — making clear that one could comfortably consume a hundred times more of most chemicals without fearing negative impacts. He also points out how many chemicals and drugs are withheld from society when their benefits far outweigh their risk.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_beach#Dioxin_contamination

...

Prone to flooding throughout its history – its first buildings were built on stilts – the town experienced a devastating flood three weeks before an announcement by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which led to the town's evacuation by 1985 and complete demolition by 1992. The town was disincorporated by executive order of :{Missouri governor:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}: :{John Ashcroft:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}: in 1985....

The problem began when Bliss took a contract with a local company called ICP to dispose of toxic waste.^[2] ICP was being paid $3,000 per load to remove toxic waste from Northeastern Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company (NEPACCO). ICP in turn paid Bliss $125 to eliminate the waste.^[2] NEPACCO operated a facility producing hexachlorophene in Verona, Missouri. Some parts of the facility had been used for the production of :{Agent Orange:(style="color:#ed1c24"):}: during the :{Vietnam War:(style="color:#ed1c24"):}:, and the waste clay and water contained levels of :{dioxin:(style="color:#ed1c24"):}: some 2,000 times higher than the dioxin content in :{Agent Orange:(style="color:#ed1c24"):}:.^[2] Bliss claimed he was unaware that the waste contained dioxin, having even sprayed it around his own home.^[2]

Bliss had first used the technique of spraying waste oil to control dust in horse stables after discovering it worked well at his own home.^[2]When a March 1971 spraying resulted in the death of 62 horses, the owners of the stable suspected Bliss, who assured them he had sprayed used engine oil.^[2] Bliss, however, had mixed the NEPACCO waste with the oil.^[2] The owners followed Bliss's activities, and after other stables experienced similar problems, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began investigating. In late 1979, a NEPACCO employee confessed the company's practice of disposing of dioxin.^[2] The government sued NEPACCO in 1980.

The EPA visited Times Beach in mid-1982, and, in November 1982, stories began to appear in the press about the discovery of dioxin in Times Beach. Another soil sample was taken December 3, 1982, and the test result showed dioxin levels some 100 times higher than the one part per billion generally considered to be hazardous to humans.^[2]

On December 5, 1982, the Meramec River flooded, causing an evacuation as more than 95% of the city was covered with 10 feet (3.0 m) or more of water.^[2] Flood stage was 18.5 feet (5.6 m) and the water crested at 42.88 feet (13.07 m).

On December 23, 1982, the EPA announced it had identified dangerous levels of dioxin in Times Beach's soil. Panic spread through the town, with many illnesses, miscarriages, and animal deaths attributed to the dioxin.^[2] President **:{Ronald Reagan:(style="background-color:#fff200"):}:** formed a dioxin task force. At the time, dioxin was hailed as "the most toxic chemical synthesized by man," based on its extreme toxicity in guinea pigs.

==

carlo

==

1993 Sept:The Nufarm dioxin spill: The Australian Journal of Public Health publishes Carlo's reply to criticism of his Melbourne Water Supply report. 

Noel Turnbull a Hill & Knowlton employee, later attacked Greenpeace for exposing theNufarm spill in a text book on Australian public relations::

In the 1980s Greenpeace conducted one of its raids on a western suburban plant owned by Nufarm, an agricultural chemical manufacturer. They accused the plant of being a source of toxic threats to the water supply.

[Note "accused" — by then it had been established beyond doubt.] 

    In this case Melbourne Water, the local water utility, demolished Greenpeace's arguments with an aggressive campaign based on scientific evidence obtained from their own records and from independent experts.

[This refers to both George Carlo and Michael Gough] 

    Admittedly it was one of the few examples where scientific evidence triumphed over pressure group activism, but it was also an example of how determined opponents can be neutralised.

[One must remember the source of this text book — Hill & Knowlton worked for pharmacuetical, chemical and tobacco companies. In fact, they appear to have organised Carlo's old OTA friend Michael Gough to come to Australia to calm any residual fears about the Carlo dioxin study credentials following the Nufarm problems. 

    Gough arrived in Melbourne in 1991 and held press-conferences exonerating dioxins from any public health risk. He supported Carlo's original assessment, without mentioning that they were old buddies. Gough was also the US government expert who publicly stated that you could eat a plate-full of dioxin on your breakfast cornflakes without suffering any ill effects.] 

The Hoover Institute, has published Gough's version of the dioxin wars. :{

}:

1994:thru 1988: Carlo is still on the selected committee of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), Agent Orange Advisory Panel which deals with dioxin contamination of Vietnam war veterans. This was run by Michael Gough who had helped him out in Melbourne over the NuFarm dioxin spill.

Claims made in George Carlo's 1988 C/V

[Carlo was seen as the representative on this panel for Dow Chemicals.[ 

1994 /E:Pharma Pacific Management At some time in the 1994-95 period Carlo appeared in the literature as the Technical Director for two associated drug companies nominally based in Sydney, Australia. They also had offices in the USA at Florida and Washington (at his office addresses). 

    These associated companies were Pharma Pacific, which seems to manufacture and distribute immune-suppression drugs and vaccines, and Pharma Pacific Management Pty. Ltd, which is the holding company. They also appear to be involved in government lobbying on behalf of a wider group of vaccine-producing companies in Australia.

[It later emerged that they were secret phramacuetical subsidiaries of Dow Chemicals. 

    When approached by Australian journalist Stewart Fist, Pharma Pacific was keen to offer the services of George Carlo as a keynote speaker at a conference in Australia.]

1994:The corporate contributions to the 'public relations & research' budget of Chlorine Chemistry Council (CCC) was $12 million, up from $2 million in 1992. 

    The CCC was the latest name change for the Chlorine Institute (CI) , which was a CMA lobbying organisation which had hired Carlo as a consultant and planted him on the Banbury Conference. The organization mainly consisted of synthetic-organic chemical manufacturers and their allies from the American Forest and Paper Association (AFPA).

    The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manfacturers Association (SOCMA) was run by Paul E Oreffice, President of Dow Chemicals, and William H Bricker, President of Diamond Shamrock Corp.

1994 Jan:(Winter) Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials, mentions that George Carlo was Chairman of an Advisory Board for an organization called the "Cement Kiln Recycling Association". [See Google listing] 

    One article by Dr Gerson Smoger, the lawyer for a large number of Times Beach dioxin victims, says that...

George Carlo is a close friend of the chemical industry, was also influential in the "Cement Kiln Recycling Association" [and an advisor on] hazardous waste incineration in cement kilns — and a consultant of the "Chlorine Institute".

It also says that Carlo was paid $21,154.85 for his Banbury Conference activites.

[in German]  See latest information on dioxins: 

1994 Feb:The National Journal (Dec 3 1994) gives the history of the Dioxin Wars.:

Dioxin is a by-product of some chlorine manufacturing processes, and companies that make or use chlorine products could face new restrictions if EPA proceeds with the regulations. 

    Even before the report's release, the Chlorine Chemistry Council, a unit of the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) that includes such firms as Dow Chemical Co. and Occidental Chemical Co., launched a PR campaign to defuse its expected conclusions. In February, the council hired Ketchum Public Relations, which started rounding up scientists sympathethic to the industry's point of view. 

    "We identified a number of independent scientists and took them on the road" to meet with journalists, academics, political leaders and local health officials,Mark Schannon, an associate director of Ketchum's Washington office, said. 

    The blitz, which started in May and covered at least 30 cities, was designed to undercut the press coverage that the EPA report was expected to receive when it was released in September [Which confirmed that dioxin was a probable human carcinongen]. "Basically what we're trying to do is assure that industry's voice is heard by people who make policy decisions both here and around the country," Schannon said. 

    The CMA is also providing about $200,000 to finance a _{scientific review panel}_to provide comments to EPA about the quality of its dioxin reassessment. The panel is co-chaired by John A. Moore, an EPA acting deputy administrator during the Reagan Administration who is now the president of the Institute for Evaluating Health Risks, a Washington think tank.

:{:{

http://www.sciencecorruption.com/ATN167/00247.html}:}:

==

2012? CHEJ dow tag

http://chej.org/tag/dow-chemical/

past few months have been a real doozy for the vinyl chemical industry.

While you were probably indulging in a bit too much holiday egg nog or prancing underneath the mistletoe, the vinyl chemical industry was in hot water from New Jersey to Delaware to California.

“These individuals can never know how much and for how long they were exposed to vinyl chloride, a highly toxic gas known to cause fatal cancer and liver damage,” the chairman stated.

The biggest news was no doubt the train cars carrying vinyl chloride heading to OxyVinyls thatderailed in Paulsboro, NJ. The accident was nothing short of a major environmental and occupational health disaster. One of the trains released 23,000 gallons of vinyl chloride, which formed a cloud of toxic gas that drifted into homes and businesses throughout the community.  More than 70 people were hospitalized after the vinyl chloride release. Air monitoring found very high levels of this chemical in the community. Hundreds of families were then forced to shelter in place and eventually evacuate their homes for days.   Since then, it’s been revealed that first responders were exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride, as it’s shown up in their bodies.  Thanks in part by the fine folks over at OxyVinyls (more on Oxy below).  You can read more about the train disaster in this op-ed I authored for the NJ Star Ledger (the largest paper in NJ!).

The same week that Oxy’s vinyl chloride was poisoning the air of Paulsboro, vinyl manufacturer Formosa Plastics was fined by the state of Delaware more than $70,000 for various air pollution violations at their plant in Delaware City.  It’s not the first time Formosa has been in hot water for violating the law.

In California the US Customs and Border Protection seized 35,000 toxic rubber (vinyl) duckies, which were in violation of the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act for containing elevated levels of phthalates.  According to the feds:

“they arrived from China dressed as Santa, Snowman, Gingerbread man, Reindeer and Penguin, all 35,712, but their cute holiday flair did not deflect the scrutiny of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists, at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport.”

And that was just in December!

What will 2013 bring for the vinyl industry?

The past few weeks have shown 2013 will not be much easier for the vinyl chemical industry.

Down in Georgia, a recycling company has reduced their stockpile of PVC, after more than 400 firefighters had to battle a fire at the plant.

“It’s been almost six months since Chattooga County, Ga., was hit by its largest fire in three decades, when more than 400 firefighters battled a blaze at a plastics recycling plant in Berryton, Ga.  One thing has changed since then: The North Georgia Textile Supply Co. has whittled down its stockpile of a potentially toxic type of plastic: polyvinyl chloride, or PVC.When PVC burns and firefighters spray water on it, a cloud of chlorine gas can result.Since the fire, North Georgia Textile Supply Co. has reduced the amount of PVC at the recycling facility in the old Berryton yarn mill three miles southwest of Summerville, Ga.”

EPA published the latest toxic release inventory (TRI) data, and their latest findings show that 3 of the top 5 dioxin polluters in the country were vinyl companies:OxyVinyls, Dow Chemical, and Westlakes Vinyl (with Oxy and Dow #1 and #2).

New scientific studies published continue to underscore what we know – vinyl chemicals are toxic to our health.  Studies have found dioxin delays the onset of puberty in boys, phthalates in the bodies of ants, and organotins (which are used to “stabilize” vinyl) linked to obesity, even in the grandchildren of those exposed.  Nick Kristof wrote a fantastic column about this new study in last week’s New York Times.

Finally, WFPL radio ran a heartbreaking and extremely powerful story about the families of vinyl workers who died from liver cancer, after being exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride.  This here says it all:

“But it’s too late for the workers who have already died from angiosarcoma or are suffering from liver disease. Janet Crecelius Johnson wonders why B.F. Goodrich couldn’t have erred on the side of caution. Her husband Revis was diagnosed with cancer a year to the day after he retired. He had worked night shifts for nearly 40 years, and was looking forward to spending more time with his family.

“Every time there’s a wedding, every time there’s a baby, you just think, ‘I wish he could be here.’””

Any other major stories I might have missed?

Tags: cancer, DEHP, dioxin, Dow Chemical, EPA, firefighters, Formosa, obesity, organotins, OxyVinyls, Paulsboro, puberty, PVC,rubber duckies, toxic plastic, TRI, vinyl, vinyl chloride | Backyard Talk, Be Safe, CEHP, Media Center, News, PVC | Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted January 26, 2013 by Mike Schade

Petrochemical America: Picturing Cancer Alley

Last month, when news outlets around the country covered our press event revealing toxic phthalates in children’s Back To School supplies, we were proud of the work we’d done. Tens of thousands of Americans had been educated about how to avoid real risks to their children’s health.

This month, CHEJ is proud to help present those stories in a way they have never been presented before.But as so often happens, absent from the coverage were the stories of the people who live near the chemical plants that produce the vinyl, whose land, air, and water has been harmed for decades by some of the most profitable companies in the world.

**Petrochemical America: Picturing Cancer Alley** is a groundbreaking new collaboration by photographer Richard Misrach and landscape architect Kate Orff, debuting at Aperture Gallery and Bookstore in NYCtonight. Through haunting photographs and innovative composite images employing ecological and sociological data, gathered over the course of 14 years on the banks of the Mississippi river in Louisiana, the book and gallery exhibition provide a moving and deeply informed portrait of the American “sacrifice zones” upon which our use of plastics, oil, and gas depends. Read more about Plaquemine, LA, pictured above.

For those in New York City, we invite you to attend two free, upcoming gallery events:

• Tuesday, Sept. 25th, at 6:30pm: A panel discussion with our own Mike Schade, joined by Ms. Orff and Wilma Subra of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network.
• Tuesday, Oct. 2nd, at 6:30 pm: A talk and screening of the excellent and darkly comic filmBlue Vinyl, with author David Rosner and landscape designer Gena Wirth.

Both events are free and include access to the exhibit. They will take place at Aperture Gallery and Bookstore, 547 West 27th Street, New York, NY.

For our supporters around the country, we encourage you to explore the content of the book and consider purchasing a copy. Aperture Foundation is nonprofit, and book sales help sustain its exhibitions, books, and magazine.

As we continue to advocate in New York City to get PVC out of new construction, renovation, and school supplies in our public schools, projects like Petrochemical America help us and our supporters keep in mind the full scale of what’s at stake in shifting to a safer, more sane, and more just material economy.

Tags: Aperture Foundation, back-to-school, cancer, Dow Chemical, Environmental Justice, health, healthy schools, Louisiana,Misrach, Orff, Petrochemical America, PVC, SCAPE, toxic chemicals, vinyl | Backyard Talk, Homepage, News, PVC | Permalink |1 Comment | Posted September 21, 2012 by Daniel Gradess

Big news! EPA Health Report on Dioxin Released After Twenty Seven Years of Delays

(Falls Church, VA) Today the US EPA has finally released their major report on the noncancer health effects of dioxin, which for the past twenty seven years has been delayed due to interference from the chemical industry.  Environmental and health groups across the country celebrated this important milestone.

“We applaud EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and the Obama Administration for finalizing this important health report on dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals on the planet,” said Lois Marie Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ).“After twenty seven years of delays, I quite honestly never thought this report would ever see the light of day.  Today the American people won a major victory against the chemical industry, who has been working behind closed doors for decades to hide and distort the truth about the dangers of dioxin.  The science is clear: dioxin is toxic to our children’s health and development.  We strongly urge the EPA to now finish the job by finishing their review on dioxin and cancer, and to develop a comprehensive action plan to further reduce dioxin emissions and exposures.  To start, the EPA should finalize the EPA’s proposed cleanup standards for dioxin at toxic sites, which have been languishing at the White House OMB since 2010.  We call on the Obama Administration to dust off the prestigious National Academy of Sciences report on dioxin in food to explore innovative policies to reduce the levels of dioxin in the food supply.”

Dioxin is building up in our bodies as a result of the food we eat.   According to EPA over 90% of human exposure to dioxin occurs through our diet.  Dioxin is most prevalent in meat, fish, dairy, and other fatty foods.

EPA has been under enormous pressure by environmental health, environmental justice, labor, health-impacted, and Vietnam Veterans organizations to release the non-cancer health assessment in recent weeks and ever since President Obama entered office.  In January a letter was delivered to EPA Administrator Jackson signed by over 2,000 organizations and individuals. Over the past month a broad coalition of organizations have written to EPA urging the agency to finalize this report. This includes the Breast Cancer Fund, Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), Endometriosis Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, National Medical Association, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club, Vietnam Veterans of America, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Canadian Environmental Law Association, , Clean Water Action, Ecology Center, Edison Wetlands Association, Environmental Working Group, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Healthy Child Healthy World, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, International POPS Elimination Network (IPEN), Ironbound Community Corporation, Kentucky Environmental Foundation, the Lone Tree Council, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Reproductive Health Technologies Project, Science & Environmental Health Network, The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, Union of Concerned Scientists, Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign, and Women’s Voices for the Earth.

In January, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee and senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, sent EPA a letter urging the agency to finalize this dioxin assessment.  In April, Rep. Markey and 72 members of Congress sent a letter to EPA calling on the agency to release the report.

Dioxin is a known human carcinogen.  Dioxin also causes a wide range of adverse non-cancer effects including reproductive, developmental, immunological, and endocrine effects in both animals and humans. Animal studies show that dioxin exposure is associated with endometriosis, decreased fertility, the inability to carry pregnancies to term, lowered testosterone levels, decreased sperm counts, birth defects, and learning disabilities.  In children, dioxin exposure has been associated with IQ deficits, delays in psychomotor and neurodevelopment, and altered behavior including hyperactivity. Studies in workers have found lowered testosterone levels, decreased testis size, and birth defects in offspring of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

Dioxin’s effects on the immune system of the developing organism appear to be among the most sensitive endpoints studied. Animal studies show decreased immune response and increased susceptibility to infectious disease. In human studies, dioxin was associated with immune system depression and alterations in immune status leading to increased infections.  Dioxin can also disrupt the normal function of hormones—chemical messengers that the body uses for growth and regulation. Dioxin interferes with thyroid levels in infants and adults, alters glucose tolerance, and has been linked to diabetes.

In response to anticipated concerns about dioxin in food, the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) has prepared these top six tips for reducing exposure to dioxin in food:

1. Eat less animal fat — buy lean meats and poultry – and cut off the fat before cooking.
2. Eat fat free dairy products – or as low as you can – for dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt.
3. Fish is a healthy food choice – but fish are also affected, so avoid fatty fish (such as salmon) and cut the fat off before cooking and eating.
4. Purchase food products that have been grain or grass fed.  Farm animals fed food with animal products that includes other animal’s fat increases the amount of dioxin ingested by livestock and increases the amount of dioxin that is in the consumer meat product.
5. Eat more fruits and vegetables.
6. Breast feed your babies – breast milk is still the healthiest food for your baby.

According to EPA, dioxin releases increased by 18% from 2009-2010 nationally.  Dioxin air releases increased by 10%.  Some of the top U.S. companies that reported releasing dioxin into the environment in 2010 were Dow Chemical, Missouri Chemical Works, Gerdau Ameristeel, Lehigh Southwest Cement, Formosa Plastics Corporation, Temple-Inland, Cahaba Pressure Treated Forest Products, and Clean Harbors Aragonite.  Three of these facilities make chemicals to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. Municipal waste incinerators, medical waste incinerators, landfill fires, and backyard burn barrels are some of the other top sources of dioxin in America.

For a copy of EPA’s new dioxin health report, visit http://www.epa.gov/dioxin

For a fact-sheet on the hazards of dioxin, visit http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/Documents/Dioxin%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

For frequently asked questions about dioxin in food, visit http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Dioxin-and-Food.pdf

For a detailed history of dioxin delays, visit: http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/DioxinTimeframeFebruary2012.pdf

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Tags: birth defects, diabetes, dioxin, Dow Chemical, endometriosis, EPA, food, Formosa Plastics, infertility, IRIS, learning disabilities, Lisa Jackson, PVC | Be Safe, CEHP, Homepage, Media Center, News, PVC | Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted February 17, 2012 by Mike Schade

For Sale: American’s Health

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Who’s buying? Not the advocacy groups that work tirelessly to protect people’s health and the environment, they can’t afford the purchase.

It’s the American Chemistry Council (ACC) who spent more in the fourth quarter then any quarter in recent history . . . in fact they doubled their spending.

ACC, the chief lobbying arm of the chemical manufacturing industry, spent $5.37 million that quarter, the fifth highest of any lobbying operation on Capitol Hill during that time.

ACC’s lobbying disclosure report shows they were involved in a host of issues, ranging from efforts to update chemical regulations, to EPA’s air pollution rules for boilers and incinerators, to the long-delayed health assessments of substances like bisphenol A (BPA) and formaldehyde.

Their disclosure also demonstrates it lobbied EPA on its 27-year-old IRIS assessment of dioxin. EPA was supposed to finalize the non-cancer portion of its dioxin assessment on January 31st but didn’t happen in the face of significant industry opposition. However, the agency hasn’t publicly explained the delay.

So while ACC protects and possibly even increases their profit, the American people, our children are unnecessarily expose to chemicals and face a lifetime of health problems and learning disabilities.

Yes America is for sale, and it’s time for American to stand up for everyone to stand up and say America’s Not For Sale! No More!

ACC included Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-N.J.) “Safe Chemicals Act” in their efforts, which would overhaul the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and require manufacturers to prove their substances are safe before they go on the market.

For all of 2011, ACC spent almost $10.3 million, significantly more than the $8.1 million it spent the year before. Last year’s total trumps what was spent by Dow Chemical Co., which spent $7.3 million. The American Petroleum Institute, the largest trade association for the oil and gas industry, also spent far less.

These industries had record earnings last year – their shareholders are not suffering from a drop in earnings. Even though they are eating and drinking dioxin just like the rest of us, they can afford the safest foods and the best health care money can buy, unlike CHEJ’s constituency.

Although the polluters and their lobbyist have more money than most of us can imagine we can still prevail. They understand the real power of the people and cannot control that element. In fact, this is why someone sent a thug into our offices and cut our telephone and internet lines at near the peak of our fundraising and dioxin campaign organizing. Despite their efforts we delivered over 2,000 individuals and organizations from across the country to EPA representing millions of people.

It is time to exercise our collective power and put the power back in the hands of American people. However, our power can only be activated when people take step up. With the 2012 elections this year everyone has an opportunity to exercise your power. Ask candidates where they stand on your important issues and let them know they must earn your vote. This country belongs to its people not to corporations whose greed is insurmountable.

Tags: cancer, chemicals, corporate lobby, dioxin, Dow Chemical, health, learning disabilities, toxic chemicals, TSCA | Backyard Talk, Be Safe, CEHP, Media Center, Members Only, News, PVC | Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted February 8, 2012 by Lois

Environmental Health Leaders Blast EPA for Failing to Release Dioxin Health Report

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Once Again American Public Denied Right to Know and Ability to Protect Families from Unnecessary Exposure

Advocates Urge EPA to Immediately Release Dioxin Health Report, Decry 27 Years of Delays Due to Chemical Industry Interference

(Falls Church, VA) For twenty seven years, the American public has been kept in the dark about the health impacts of dioxin.  Today environmental health advocates strongly condemned the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for once again failing to meet their January 31^st deadline to release their report on the noncancer impacts of dioxin.

“Shame on EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for denying parents the information they need to protect their children from the health impacts of dioxin,” said Lois Marie Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ).“This is America — parents have the right to know.  Today the EPA has once again caved into pressure from Dow Chemical and their chemical industry cronies.  EPA shouldn’t cave in to chemical industry dollars and interests over public health.  Cancer, diabetes, infertility, learning disabilities and other chronic diseases linked to dioxin exposure are extremely costly to American taxpayers. EPA missed yet another deadline to release their report on dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals on the planet.  In recent months, the chemical industry has been working behind closed doors to hide and distort the truth about the dangers of dioxin.  At the same time, Vietnam Veterans, breast cancer advocates, public health organizations, and environmental justice leaders have stood shoulder to shoulder and urged EPA to do what’s right for the health of American children and families.  We call on EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to immediately release this important report.  We can’t wait any longer.”

EPA has been under intense pressure by environmental health, environmental justice, labor, health-impacted, and Vietnam Veterans organizations to release the non-cancer health assessment in recent weeks and ever since President Obama entered office.  Last week, a letter was delivered to EPA Administrator Jackson signed by over 2,000 organizations and individuals from across the country.

Over the past three weeks a broad coalition of organizations have written to EPA urging the agency to finalize this review The coalition includes Breast Cancer Fund, Endometriosis Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club, Vietnam Veterans of America, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Center for Health, Environment & Justice, Clean Water Action, Ecology Center, Edison Wetlands Association, Environmental Working Group, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Healthy Child Healthy World, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, International POPS Elimination Network (IPEN), Ironbound Community Corporation, Kentucky Environmental Foundation, the Lone Tree Council, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Reproductive Health Technologies Project, Science & Environmental Health Network, The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, Union of Concerned Scientists, Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign, and Women’s Voices for the Earth.

In January, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee and senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, sent EPA a letter urging the agency to finalize this dioxin assessment.  In April, Rep. Markey and 72 members of Congress sent a letter to EPA calling on the agency to release the report.

Dioxin is a known human carcinogen.  Dioxin also causes a wide range of adverse non-cancer effects including reproductive, developmental, immunological, and endocrine effects in both animals and humans. Animal studies show that dioxin exposure is associated with endometriosis, decreased fertility, inability to carry pregnancies to term, lowered testosterone levels, decreased sperm counts, birth defects, and learning disabilities.  In children, dioxin exposure has been associated with IQ deficits, delays in psychomotor and neurodevelopment, and altered behavior including hyperactivity. Studies in workers have found lowered testosterone levels, decreased testis size, and birth defects in offspring of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

Dioxin’s effects on the immune system of the developing organism appear to be among the most sensitive endpoints studied. Animal studies show decreased immune response and increased susceptibility to infectious disease. In human studies, dioxin was associated with immune system depression and alterations in immune status leading to increased infections.  Dioxin can also disrupt the normal function of hormones—chemical messengers that the body uses for growth and regulation. Dioxin interferes with thyroid levels in infants and adults, alters glucose tolerance, and has been linked to diabetes.

According to EPA, dioxin releases increased by 18% from 2009-2010 nationally.  Dioxin air releases increased by 10%.  The top ten U.S. companies that reported releasing dioxin into the environment in 2010 were Westlake Vinyls, Dow Chemical (Freeport Facility), Dow Chemical (Louisiana Operations), Missouri Chemical Works, Gerdau Ameristeel, Lehigh Southwest Cement, Formosa Plastics Corporation (Louisiana), Temple-Inland, Cahaba Pressure Treated Forest Products, and Clean Harbors Aragonite.  Four of these ten facilities make chemicals to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. Municipal waste incinerators, medical waste incinerators, landfill fires, and backyard burn barrels are some of the other top sources of dioxin in America.

Most Recent Dioxin Timeline:

January 31, 2012: EPA once again misses their deadline for finalizing their report on the noncancer impacts of dioxin.

January 26, 2012: Thousands of individuals and organizations from across the United States write to EPA urging the agency to finalize this study once and for all: http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/PVCSignOnLetterJanuary26.pdf

January 10-31, 2012: Over a two week period, 30 organizations send letters to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson urging EPA to finalize dioxin studies:  http://chej.org/2012/01/lisa-jackson-finalize-the-epa%E2%80%99s-dioxin-study-once-and-for-all/

January 11, 2012: International Dairy Food Association (IDFA) and other members of the Food Industry Dioxin Working Group, a coalition of agriculture, processing and retail food industry organizations that have been pressuring EPA and the Obama Administration to once again delay the release of the  dioxin report, formally ask EPA to withdraw its dioxin risk reassessment from interagency review and remove it from EPA’s regulatory schedule. http://www.idfa.org/news–views/details/6833/

January 10, 2012: Representative Ed Markey (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee and senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, sends EPA a letter urging the agency to finalize the dioxin study. http://markey.house.gov/press-release/markey-epa-no-more-delays-dioxin-health-assessment

January 5, 2012: EPA announces that overall dioxin releases increased by 18% from 2009-2010 nationally, and dioxin air releases increased by 10%: http://markey.house.gov/press-release/markey-epa-no-more-delays-dioxin-health-assessment

December 20, 2011: American Chemistry Council (ACC) requests EPA delay the release of the dioxin reassessment: http://www.americanchemistry.com/Policy/Regulatory-Reform/Cal-Dooley-Letter-to-Administrator-Jackson-Fix-Dioxin-Reassessment.pdf

December 7, 2011: IDFA and other members of the Food Industry Dioxin Working Group, urge the White House to intervene on the dioxin reassessment: http://www.idfa.org/key-issues/category/food-safety–defense/details/6721/

November 2, 2011: IDFA writes to U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and requests that the two agencies “urge EPA to pursue scientific review by the National Academy of Sciences of any proposed reference dose and to coordinate with your agencies any actions that could undermine consumer confidence in the safety of our food supply.” http://www.idfa.org/files/resources/idfa_dioxin_letter_vilsack_hamburg_102811.pdf

August 29, 2011: EPA announces its final plan for completing their study on dioxin, which EPA has been working on since 1985. http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=209690

August 26, 2011: EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) releases their final report reviewing EPA’s draft dioxin Reanalysis:http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/fedrgstr_activites/2A45B492EBAA8553852578F9003ECBC5/$File/EPA-SAB-11-014-unsigned.pdf

April 11, 2011: Rep. Markey and 72 members of Congress send a letter to EPA calling on the agency to release the study. http://markey.house.gov/press-release/april-11-2011-markey-leads-call-epa-speed-action-dioxin

For a more detailed history of dioxin delays, visit: http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/DioxinTimeframeFebruary2012.pdf

For a fact-sheet on the hazards of dioxin, visit http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/Documents/Dioxin%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

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Tags: dioxin, Dow Chemical, EPA, IRIS, Lisa Jackson, TSCA | Be Safe, CEHP, Homepage, Media Center, News, PVC |Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted February 1, 2012 by Mike Schade

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What the Chemical Industry Doesn’t Want You To Know!

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The American people will panic if they find out there is dangerous levels of dioxin in their food. That’s the argument the chemical and food industries are using to stop the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) scientific report on dioxin.   Really. . . do they really think people will panic rather than take steps to protect their families?  The American people didn’t panic and not place their children in vehicles when they learned that more kids are injured in auto collisions than in any other type of accident. Parents installed safety seats.

The EPA’s dioxin report has been meticulously peer reviewed and is scientifically sound.  Yet, the power of the corporations that are responsible for dioxin in our environment and food has kept this critical scientific information (over 20 years of study) from reaching the public.  Consequently, the public is unable to make personal decisions about what foods they’ll eat and how best to reduce their families’ risks.

Dioxin, a known cancer causing and endocrine-disruptor chemical, is a byproduct of combustion and various industrial processes and is found everywhere in the environment. Chlorinated dioxins are released into the air and travel great distances landing on fields, pastures and waterways from waste incineration, burning household waste and a variety of industrial processes, including smelting, chlorine paper bleaching, PVC plastics and pesticide manufacturing. When animals graze in the pastures or eat feed that has animal byproducts, they ingest dioxin which is then stored in their fat.  So when little Joey drinks his whole milk, he also ingests dioxin contained in the milk’s fat.

Ninety percent of the public’s body burden of dioxin comes primarily from animal fat in the food supply.  The Environmental Working Group has found that the amount of dioxin a nursing infant ingests daily is up to 77 times higher than the level EPA has proposed to protect the endocrine and immune systems. The fact that both breast milk and infant formula are contaminated with dioxin highlights the urgent need for EPA to release its report.  For cancer risk, the situation is also concerning because the general public is exposed to up to 1,200 times more dioxin than regulatory agencies typically consider safe.

Parents place bike helmets on their children, fasten their seat belts, and take their babies for regular checkups because they understand the risks of not taking these steps.  However, everyone is being kept in the dark when it comes to dioxin in our food.  For example, breast milk contains fairly high levels of dioxin.  Nevertheless breast milk is still the healthiest food for baby.  EPA must release this information to new mothers so they know that nursing is the healthiest option.

Whose protection is our public agencies’ priority?

Recently, there has been an increased lobbying effort by various industries to stop the release of the EPA’s dioxin report. The International Dairy Foods Association, for example, wrote EPA a letter stating, “Animal products, such as milk and dairy foods, have the highest concentrations of dioxins, albeit at levels that are only in the parts-per-million and clearly below levels that have been determined to be unsafe. However, EPA’s proposed values for evaluating dioxin, if translated publicly to a “reference dose,” would scare consumers away from our products, and this would be contrary to the government’s own dietary guidance to consume three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy each day in order to get essential nutrients found in milk and dairy.”

Releasing the EPA’s dioxin report will help consumers make choices in food products that are low in fat content (as recommended by government’s dietary guidance) and could educate the dairy lobbyists as well since they got it wrong in their letter. Low fat and fat free products are not the big problem, because dioxin is carried into food products through the fat content.

Consumers should call their federal representatives and urge them to support the release of the EPA’s dioxin report so they can make their own decisions about what is safe.  It is time to stop assuming the American people will not understand and give them the scientific information.

Tags: cancer, chemicals, dioxin, Dow Chemical, EPA, health, learning disabilities, Mossville, phthalates, poison plastic, polluters,toxic chemicals, toxic sites, toxics, vinyl chloride | Backyard Talk, Be Safe, CEHP, Media Center, News, PVC, Statewide Focus Programs | Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted January 17, 2012 by Lois

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SABOTAGE: They Cut Our Phone/Internet Lines But Not Our Dedication & Commitment

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In case you missed my earlier communications, CHEJ was targeted by someone who wanted to do harm to our organization.  They broke into our office building around midnight and deliberately cut our phone and internet trunk cable during the last few days of the year, when our donors make their end of year contributions.  The police were called and the investigators agreed that someone had committed a crime.

This is not the first time CHEJ was a target.  You may have read the story about Greenpeace’s lawsuit filed this past October against two major chemical companies, their PR firms and several individuals for activities that amount to corporate espionage. Chemical companies Dow Chemical and Sasol (formerly CONDEA Vista), through the PR firms Dezenhall Resources (Nichols Dezenhall at the time) and Ketchum, hired private investigators from the firm Beckett Brown International (BBI) to spy on Greenpeace.

Within the documents Greenpeace found were photographs of my house and notes about my activities. It is very unnerving to know that someone is spying on you at home.  The Greenpeace suit charges the defendants stole thousands of documents, intercepted phone call detail records (CDRs), trespassed and conducted unlawful surveillance and theft of confidential information related to their public interest work.  The complaint charges that the chemical companies, PR firms and individuals “conspired to and did surveil, infiltrate and steal confidential information with the intention of preempting, blunting or thwarting” Greenpeace’s environmental campaigns.

CHEJ is not part of this lawsuit but clearly someone is trying to thwart our efforts.  The question is who?  Is it the toy/baby product manufacturers because we let consumers know about the poisons leaking from their toxic toys, baby bottles and other toxic baby merchandise?

Maybe it is the industries that are responsible for dioxin pollution as the scientific findings are scheduled to be posted later this month by EPA.  The industry has fought successfully for 25 years to keep adverse health findings from dioxin exposures of birth defects, immune suppression, infertility and diabetes from being finalized and public.  It could also be the companies who brought us PCB’s as CHEJ launches its campaign to get PCB’s out of school (built before 1979)  lighting fixtures.

What about the fracking industry they aren’t supporters of our work either.  Just a few days ago a well that took fracking wastes was closed in Ohio.  Activist believe if we close the injection wells in Ohio, then the fracking industry will have few places to go with their wastes significantly impacting their business.

CHEJ has many industries who would like to see us go away.  It’s not clear yet how many contributions we lost it might be as much as $20,000 however, some people said when they heard about the incidence they made a donation.  That’s a lot of money but it’s not enough to stop us from standing up and speaking out.  It’s not enough to deter us from helping others in the field to fight back against poisoning America’s families, homes, schools and communities.  CHEJ is back on line, back in the streets and holding polluters accountable.

Question for you is who do you think wants CHEJ gone?    Have  you had similar experiences?

Tags: cancer, chemicals, children's health, contamination, dioxin, Dow Chemical, Environmental Justice, health, healthy schools,hydrofracking, phthalates, poison plastic, polluters, pvc-free, schools, toxic chemicals, vinyl, vinyl chloride | Backyard Talk, CEHP,Fracking Campaign, Media Center, Members Only, News, PVC, Statewide Focus Programs | Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted January 2, 2012 by Lois

What the chemical industry doesn’t want you to know.

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Still stocking up on school supplies? If you’re like many other parents and doing some last-minute shopping, be sure to steer clear of toxic PVC plastic, the most widely used hazardous plastic in the world.

Check out our 2011 Back to School Guide to PVC-free School Supplies, which features safer alternatives to toxic PVC plastic in over 35 product categories, from backpacks and binders to lunchboxes and laptops.

We also have created a handy wallet-sized version for you when you’re out shopping forsome quick tips.

Top 5 Reasons to Go PVC-free:

1. Toxic additives like phthalates, lead, cadmium and organotins are commonly found in PVC children’s products, which can leach out.
2. PVC chemicals like phthalates and dioxin tresspass into our bodies and are linked to chronic diseases on the rise. They’re not just in the products or released at the chemical plants, but are entering our bodies at potentially harmful levels!
3. Your children are uniquely vulnerable to even low levels of these toxic chemicals, because their bodies and brains are still developing.
4. PVC pollutes at every stage of its lifecycle, from production to use to disposal, releasing cancer-causing chemicals like dioxin and vinyl chloride.
5. Safer and affordable alternatives are available!  Why take an unnecessary risk with your children’s health?

Stand up for your children’s right to a healthy future, and check out our Back to School Guide to PVC-free School Supplies.

Tags: back-to-school, chemicals, children's health, DEHP, dioxin, Dow Chemical, healthy schools, organotins, phthalates, poison plastic, PVC, pvc-free school supplies, pvc-free schools, school supplies, schools, toxic chemicals, vinyl, vinyl chloride | Backyard Talk, Be Safe, News, PVC | Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted August 30, 2011 by Mike Schade

New Study: Vinyl – the Most Widely Used “Hazardous” Plastic

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A new study by researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden ranked the environmental health hazards of the most common plastics on the market.  The conclusion?  Researchers ranked PVC as the most widely used “hazardous” plastic and found that, “PVC should receive extra attention because of its carcinogenic monomer, being the third largest plastic, and requiring the most and often several hazardous additives.”

The researchers also found that:

” Of the polymers ranked as most hazardous, PVC, is by far the most used one, being the third largest plastic type with a global annual production of 37 million tonnes .”

” PVC requires by far the most additives of all plastics types, alone accounting for 73% of the world production of additives by volume…”

” The polymers ranked as the most hazardous ones are made of monomers classified as either carcinogenic or both carcinogenic and mutagenic (category 1A or 1B). These belong to the polymer families of polyurethanes, polyacrylonitriles, polyvinyl chloride, epoxy resins, and styrenic copolymers (ABS, SAN and HIPS).”

73% of the world’s production of additives by volume!  The most widely used hazardous plastic!   Ouch vinyl industry!

A comprehensive evaluation of 55 plastics.

The researchers studied 55 plastic polymers and developed a “hazard ranking model” to compare them all.  For example, the authors looked at whether or not the chemicals used to make the plastics are considered to be carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR’s), and are persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT’s), etc.  The researchers also looked at whether plastics contain endocrine disruptors, such as DEHP and the other phthalates commonly found in vinyl products such as flooring in our nation’s schoolsandhospitals.

There are of course gaps in the study.  For example they didn’t appear to take enough of a look at the PVC industry’s growing use of mercury and coalin China to make the plastic, and also PVC’s leading contribution to dioxinacross the world.  That’s a key reason why the US Green Building Council concluded in their evaluation of PVC that “When we add end-of-life with accidental landfill fires and backyard burning, the additional risk of dioxin emissions puts PVC consistently among the worst materials for human health impacts…”

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This comes as no surprise to us here at CHEJ, as we’ve been sounding the alarm on PVC’s hazardous lifecycle and chemicals for years now.  This isn’t the first study to find PVC one of the most hazardous plastics, and we highly doubt it will be the last.  A study published last year byresearchers at the University of Pittsburgh evaluating 12 different common plastics ranked PVC at the bottom in terms of green design and life cycle assessment.

The good news is there’s safer alternatives.  Check out our new Guide to PVC-free School and Office Supplies to find safer products for your school.

Tags: alternatives assessment, cancer, chemicals, children's health, dioxin, Dow Chemical, lifecycle analysis, organotins,phthalates, poison plastic, PVC, pvc-free, pvc-free schools, toxics, University of Gothenburg, vinyl, vinyl chloride | Backyard Talk,Be Safe, Homepage, Media Center, News, PVC | Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted June 22, 2011 by Mike Schade

EPA Cracks Down on PVC Plastics Industry

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Yesterday, in response to a lawsuit filed by Earthjustice and Mossville Environmental Action Now, the EPA proposed new standards that will require PVC plastics manufacturers to reduce their harmful emissions of vinyl chloride, dioxin and hydrogen chloride.

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According to the EPA, “children are known to be more sensitive to the cancer risks posed by inhaling vinyl chloride, one of the known carcinogens emitted by this source category.”}:

Each year, PVC plants pump some 500,000 pounds of vinyl chloride – one of the few chemicals EPA classifies as a known human carcinogen – and many other toxic chemicals into the air. In spite of the documented effects of these cancer-causing chemicals, the PVC industry’s air emissions have remained largely unregulated for decades.

Plastics News has just published a very nice summary of how the regulations will reduce harmful air toxics emissions.

EPA Settles Lawsuit With PVC Fenceline Neighbors

This action came across as a result of a lawsuit filed by EarthJustice, Mossville Environmental Action Now (MEAN), the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN), and Sierra Club.Mossville, Louisiana is home to more PVC chemical plants than anywhere else in the country.  High levels of vinyl chloride have been found in the air in the community, and testing by the government has found elevated levels of dioxin in the bodies of families  Dr. Sanjay Gupta at CNN did an hour long expose on Mossville’s environmental health and justice problems last year.

“We live among chemicals that leach into our water, our food, our children’s bodies,” said Mr. Edgar Mouton, a retired chemical plant employee and leader in Mossville Environmental Action Now (MEAN). “It’s affected our livelihood in much too many ways with folks being diagnosed with cancer and other diseases. We’re ecstatic that EPA has answered our calls for help and decided monitor the toxins that are pumped out of these plants.”

Earlier this year, the Washington Post broke an explosive story about how some of these PVC chemical companies hired a firm made up of former secret service agents and police officers to spy on community members and Greenpeace fighting dioxin and vinyl chloride contamination down in Mossville.  Greenpeace has filedfiled a lawsuitagainst the companies, their PR firms and several individuals for activities that amount to corporate espionage.

EPA Accepting Comments on New Rules

The EPA will accept comment on their new air toxics proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The agency will also hold two public hearings in the Houston and Baton Rouge, La. areas.

There are currently 16 major and one area source of PVC production in the United States, in eight states, as follows (with number of facilities in each state): Delaware (one), Illinois (one), Kentucky (one), Louisiana (six), Missouri (one), Mississippi (one), New Jersey (two), and Texas (four).

To learn more about the new rules, the EPA has more information here.

Tags: cancer, chemicals, contamination, dioxin, Dow Chemical, Environmental Justice, EPA, health, Mossville, poison plastic,polluters, PVC, toxics, vinyl chloride | Backyard Talk, Be Safe, Homepage, News, PVC | Permalink | 0 Comments | Posted April 19, 2011 by Mike Schade

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