Toxic Chemicals Release Report Shows
Mercury, PCB Pollution Rise Dramatically
Friday, July 03, 2009 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer(NaturalNews)
Releases of mercury, PCBs, lead and dioxin into the environment increased
significantly between 2006 and 2007, according to the annual "Toxics Release
Inventory," published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"This information underscores the need for fundamental transparency and
provides a powerful tool for protecting public health and the environment,"
said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. "Serving the public's right to know is
the crucial first step in reducing toxic
chemicals in the
places where we live, work and raise children."
The "Toxics Release Inventory" classifies all releases together, including
legal and illegal dumping, disposal in mine reclamation ponds (which leach
into groundwater) and disposal in toxic dump sites.
Between 2006 and 2007, PCB
releases increased by 40 percent, due to disposal of supplies manufactured
before the substances were banned in 1979. Mercury releases, mostly due to
mining, increased by 38 percent. Dioxin releases increased by 11 percent,
and lead releases increased by 1 percent. Overall releases of all
persistent, bioaccumalitive and
toxic chemicals
or metals increased by 1 percent.
PCBs and dioxins are highly toxic to animal life, particularly birds. Both
accumulate in animal (including human) bodies and disrupt the body's
hormonal and reproductive systems. Lead and
mercury can cause
neurological and behavioral problems, particularly in children. All four
pollutants are especially dangerous to pregnant women and children, due to
their effects on the body's development.
According to the "Toxics Release Inventory," slight decreases in air and
water pollution
occurred between 2006 and 2007 -- 7 percent and 5 percent, respectively.
In December 2006, the Bush administration implemented a rule decreasing the
thoroughness of the EPA's toxics release reporting program. In March of this
year, however, President Obama signed a law overturning the Bush policy.
"The public has a right to know about chemicals in their air and
water," said New Jersey
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who authored the law. "The Bush administration
watered down this law and let facilities hide critical data about their
toxic chemical emissions. It is time to restore the public's right to know
about the release of toxic chemicals in their communities."
Sources for this story include:
www.ens-newswire.com. |