NC
PEOPLES HEARING on DIOXIN
April 29, 2000
NC
PEOPLES HEARING on DIOXIN
Americas
Choice: Childrens Health or Corporate Profit.
The Blue Ridge
Environmental Defense League, (BREDL) has scheduled the
Dioxin People's Hearing where the report, "America's
Choice; Protecting Children's Health or Corporate
Profits" will be released in North Carolina.
The alarming new findings in the report are--the amount
of dioxin in the body of the average American is
approaching the levels that cause health damage. This new
scientific report details the problems of this
life-threatening chemical and calls for immediate policy
changes at the state and federal levels.
The
keynote speaker for the hearing is Dr. Paul Connett. Dr.
Connett is a chemistry professor at St. Lawrence
University in New York State. He has traveled throughout
the United States and to 43 countries to conduct
educational work on incineration, dioxin, and positive
approaches to waste management.
Where:
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh
3313 Wade Ave. Raleigh, NC
When: Saturday, April 29, 2000
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
GOALS
To hold a
public informational hearing.
To educate
decision-makers on the dangers of dioxin
exposure.
To develop
policy recommendations which will be introduced
to agency and elected officials.
To release
the report Americas Choice:
Childrens Health or Corporate Profit.
This event is being
sponsored by: Blue Ridge Environmental
Defense League
Greenpeace
NC WARN
Clean Water Fund of North Carolina
Conservation Council of North Carolina
Piedmont District of the Episcopal AME Zion Church
Agricultural Resource Center
Center for Health, Environment and Justice
Health
effects associated with exposure to dioxin and
dioxin-like chemicals:
Effects
known to be caused by dioxin
Cancer
Chloracne
Elevated
gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels
Diabetes
Altered
glucose response
Altered
reproductive hormones
Effects
probably caused by dioxin
Skin
problems other than chloracne (hirsutism,
hyperpigmentation)
Lung
problems
Neurological
problems
Effects
likely caused by dioxin but further research is needed
Heart
disease
Elevated
cholesterol and triglycerides
Thyroid
function
Dioxins
have been associated with IQ deficits and increased
susceptibility to infections in Dutch studies.
sources of dioxin:
Municipal
waste incineration
Secondary
copper smelting
Medical
waste incineration (as in BMWNC in Matthews, NC)
Cement
kilns (hazardous waste burning)
Coal
combustion
Cement
kilns (non hazardous waste burning)
Hazardous
waste incineration (including Solite in Stanly
County, NC)
Some
Potential Emissions Sources
Landfill fires
Backyard trash burning
Asphalt mixing plants
Combustion of landfill gas in flares
Dry cleaners
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