EPA Allowed Chemical Industry to Control Panel Assessing Cancer Danger in Drinking Water

[The Straight Story]

EPA Allowed Chemical Industry to Control Panel Assessing Cancer Danger in Drinking Water

Hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing chemical made famous by the 2000 movie Erin Brockovich, still is not subject to tough federal drinking-water standards, due to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deferring to industry opposition.

Three years ago, the EPA seemed poised to act against hexavalent chromium after experts concluded that even trace amounts in tap water could cause cancer.

But then the American Chemistry Council (ACC)—the chemical industry’s trade association and chief lobbyist—urged the EPA to wait for more research, which the agency ultimately decided to do, delaying any decision another four years.

Why did the EPA change its mind?

The Center for Public Integrity found that a panel of scientists selected to provide an unbiased review of the chromium findings included several who had worked for Pacific Gas & Electric while it fought the Brockovich lawsuits over contaminated water supplies in California. The Center also discovered that ACC was able to force the removal of scientists that it didn’t want on the panel.

http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/epa-allowed-chemical-industry-to-control-panel-assessing-cancer-danger-in-drinking-water-130214?news=847064

[MotherPetrie]

1. that is heinous

[backtoblue]

2. I got a letter in the mail last month from our water company

It said that there was some contaminant (can't remember what it was) that was found TWO MONTHS BEFORE and that the levels are now back to normal. Why didn't they give a boil order or tell us when they found out?

Thanks for reminding me to do some research into this.

[NCarolinawoman]

3. Industrial pollution can also trigger autoimmune diseases.

This is what my hematologist told me when I was diagnosed with ITP.

ITP is a disorder where your spleen starts killing off you platelets. I was down to 10,000 platelets when I was diagnosed. Had to go on a very high prednisone regimen to "kill off my spleen" and have it surgically removed. Primary risk of this disease is
bleeding to death.

I couldn't imagine how I got this disease. It's rare and I never heard of it. So my doctor told me about the speculation that the triggers for many auto-immunes diseases, just as in cancer, are all the pollutants that are dumped in the water. A pathologist I once dated, told me the same thing.

[backtoblue]

4. pollutants are also thought to be a major cause of endometriosis in women. nt