Toxics in water, fish, harm people, study

[Patricia Dines <73652.1202@CompuServe.COM>]

For your info - P. Dines

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From: INTERNET:sf.moderator@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
To: sc-action@igc.apc.org
To: Patricia Dines, 73652,1202
Date: Fri, Nov 1, 1996, 8:56 PM
Subject: SC-Action #302 - Toxics And Our Kids

<snip>

IN THE REAL WORLD

Researchers Deliver a Wake Up Call To the Public and Legislators:

Today (10/30) at a Chicago Sierra Club forum, researchers sounded 
a call for public concern and government action to protect 
America's environment and our health. Scientists pointed to a 
disturbing pattern of human health and wildlife impacts from 
toxic pollution. 
 
The conference featured the results of the Oswego Newborn and 
Infant Development Project -- an ongoing study that represents 
the first replication and extension of the key study which found 
that exposure before birth to PCB-contaminated Lake Michigan fish 
can result in long lasting IQ loss in children.  That study had 
been published in this September's issue of the New England 
Journal of Medicine. 

The Oswego study confirmed these results in newborn infants of 
mothers who consumed Lake Ontario fish contaminated with a wide 
range of persistent toxic chemicals. 

The single largest source of toxic chemical pollution to fish and 
people are the muds at the bottom of many of our waters -- small 
farm ponds to large industrial harbors.  The muds store dangerous 
chemicals that were released to our waters in the past and those 
still being released by industry today.  The chemicals stored in 
the muds can then build up in the fish, frogs, and other animals 
that live in those waters.  

"We protect our lab rats better than we do our children. In order 
to expose lab animals to what our children are being exposed to 
on a daily basis, I need to receive permission," said Dr. Warren 
Porter, chair of the Department of Zoology at the University of 
Wisconsin.  [PD NOTE:  I love this quote!!]

The conferees stressed that we can take concrete steps to protect 
our families and reduce pollution.

1. Vote for pro-environment, pro-health candidates on election day. 

2. Don't drink from, swim, or eat fish from polluted waters.  

3. Urge state and national representatives to expand our 
families' right to know about pollution in our neighborhood.  

4. Buy green products like chlorine free-paper and clothing. 

5. Urge Congress to make polluters responsible for the release of 
dangerous chemicals out of your waterways.