Thread: Water Contaminant Can Cause Cancer

Study: Water Contaminant Can Cause Cancer

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, July 27, 2006
(07-27) 17:42 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Growing scientific evidence suggests the most widespread industrial contaminant in drinking water — a solvent used in adhesives, paint and spot removers — can cause cancer in people.
The National Academy of Sciences reported Thursday that a lot more is known about the cancer risks and other health hazards from exposure to trichloroethylene than there was five years ago when the Environmental Protection Agency took steps to regulate it more strictly.
"Armed with the results from the NAS review, EPA will aggressively move forward" on a new risk assessment of TCE, spokeswoman Jennifer Wood said Thursday. "EPA will determine whether or not to address the drinking water standard once the risk assessment is complete."
TCE, which is also widely used to remove grease from metal parts in airplanes and to clean fuel lines at missile sites, is known to cause cancer in some laboratory animals. EPA was blocked from elevating its assessment of the chemical's risks in people by the Defense Department, Energy Department and NASA, all of which have sites polluted with it.
TCE is a colorless liquid that evaporates at room temperatures and has a somewhat sweet odor and taste. It is one of the most common pollutants found in the air, soil and water at U.S. military bases. Until the mid-1970s, it also was used as a surgical anesthetic.
It also has been found at about 60 percent of the nation's worst contaminated sites in the Superfund cleanup program, the academy said.
Its 379-page report recommends that EPA revise its assessment of TCE's risks using "currently available data" so no more time is wasted.
That's a step that could lead to stricter regulations. EPA currently requires limiting TCE to no more than 5 parts per billion parts of drinking water. A stricter regulation could, in turn, force the government to require more thorough cleanups at military and other sites.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., said the report should prompt the government to move faster in cleaning up TCE contamination like that found in his home state and nationally.
"It is no longer acceptable for the government and local polluters to claim that health risks associated with TCE are simply scientific theory when we know that they are compelling scientific fact," said Hinchey, who is on the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the environment.
A committee of academy experts said "a large body of epidemiologic data is available" on TCE showing the chemical is a possible cause of kidney cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, impaired neurological function and autoimmune disease.
"The committee found that the evidence on carcinogenic risk and other health hazards from exposure to trichloroethylene has strengthened since 2001," the report said. "Hundreds of waste sites are contaminated with trichloroethylene, and it is well documented that individuals in many communities are exposed to the chemical, with associated health risks."
In 2001, EPA issued a draft document saying the risks of TCE causing cancer in humans were higher than previously thought. But that pronouncement was dropped after other federal agencies accused EPA of inflating the risks.
To mediate the issue, the Bush administration asked the academy to study the issue.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... e=politics

Here is soemthing else they like to poison people with

http://www.foodconsumer.org/777/8/Tell_ ... ides.shtml


Tell EPA to Reject Dangerous Fluoride-Based Pesticides
By EWG news release
Jul 21, 2006, 18:54


July 19, 2006

Dear Friend:

Most of us grew up believing that fluoride is good for us, and indeed, fluoridated toothpaste does seem to promote healthy teeth. But new scientific research shows that overexposure to fluoride carries serious health risks, especially for babies and children.

The prestigious National Academy of Sciences recently concluded that the current allowable levels of fluoride in tap water are unsafe and should be lowered. However, Dow Chemical Co. is pushing for a new EPA regulation that would allow the use of high levels of a chemical called sulfuryl fluoride as a food pesticide. We don't need more fluoride in our food--there is already too much in our water.

EWG filed a motion with the EPA to suspend all food fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride. In response, the EPA has opened up the issue to comments from consumers and ordinary citizens by email--we need to take advantage of this opportunity to level the playing field. You can be sure that Dow will have its lawyers and lobbyists working overtime to get this request granted.

Please act immediately to meet the agency's August 4th deadline for public comments. Tell the EPA to reject dangerous fluoride-based pesticides.

http://www.ewg.org/newsletter/fluoride/

Thank you for taking action. We must show the EPA that we're watching and we care about our children's health.

Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President

P.S. I am sure you have friends and family that would be surprised to learn about fluoride overexposure and its health consequences. Please forward this message and let them know that the need to contact the EPA is urgent.

New Scientific Research Challenges the Conventional Wisdom About Fluoride

• The National Academy of Sciences found that when fluoride is consumed in high doses
--such as through food and water--it can interfere with brain functioning, cause bone fractures, dental fluorosis (weakening of the teeth), thyroid and pineal gland disorders, and worsen diabetes. Fluoride's connection to cancer, IQ deficits, dementia, immune system disorders, and other serious health risks are still being researched.

• A new Harvard University study found that boys who drink water with levels of fluoride considered safe by federal guidelines are five times more likely to have a rare bone cancer than boys who drink unfluoridated water. Fluoride has been banned from drinking water throughout Europe.

• To date, the EPA has not adequately considered how the addition of chemical fluoride residue on food would raise the already unacceptable levels of fluoride that adults and children drink out of their kitchen faucets. It's up to us to bring this concern to the forefront.