Tag: health risk

Epa Tightens Rules for Dry Cleaners

The Environmental Protection Agency is tightening rules for dry cleaners that use a chemical suspected of causing cancer and other serious health problems. The GLRC’s Erin Toner reports:

Transcript

The Environmental Protection Agency is tightening rules for dry cleaners that use a
chemical suspected of causing cancer and other serious health problems. The GLRC’s
Erin Toner reports:


Nearly 30 thousand dry cleaners across the country use perchloroethylene, or “perc.” The
government says while the potential for health effects for most dry cleaners is generally
low, some cleaners located in apartment buildings pose a risk. The new rules require a
complete phase out of perc at those dry cleaners by 2020.


Alison Davis is a spokesperson for the EPA:


“We did a very thorough analysis of the risk for people who live in apartment buildings
close to these dry cleaners. And based on that analysis, we understand that a lifetime of
exposure to perc emissions in these buildings is unacceptable.”


Since 1993, dry cleaners have cut perc emissions by 15 thousand tons a year. They’ve
begun using alternative solvents, and replaced old machines.


For the GLRC, I’m Erin Toner.

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Fda to Review Mercury in Canned Tuna

A newspaper investigation of mercury levels in canned tuna has prompted a probe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Erin Toner reports:

Transcript

A newspaper investigation of mercury levels in canned tuna has
prompted a probe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Erin Toner reports:


Last year the FDA updated its mercury warning. It said that canned light
tuna is low in mercury. Now, in response to a Chicago Tribune series,
the agency says it will take a closer look at mercury levels.


The newspaper reported the tuna industry is using yellowfin – a
potentially high-mercury species – to make about 15 percent of the light
tuna sold every year. The Tribune reported varying levels of mercury in
light tuna products, and that most cans containing yellowfin tuna are not
labeled as such.


Environmental groups have demanded tougher restrictions on mercury in
tuna and more specific labeling requirements so people know what
they’re eating.


A lobbyist for top tuna producers has said light tuna is not a health risk,
but said the industry would cooperate with the FDA investigation.


High levels of mercury can cause neurological and learning problems in
children.


For the GLRC, I’m Erin Toner.

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Chemical Plant Security in Question

The General Accounting Office has released a report saying that there’s no way to know how secure the nation’s chemical plants are from terrorist attacks. The Congressional Research Agency says that no federal department has looked into the problem yet. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Bill Poorman reports:

Transcript

The General Accounting Office has released a report saying that there’s
no way to know how secure the nation’s chemical plants are from
terrorist attacks. The Congressional Research Agency says that no
federal department has looked into the problem yet. The Great Lakes
Radio Consortium’s Bill Poorman reports:


The GAO released the study last week. It says that there are 123
chemical plants in the U.S. that are in areas where more than a million
people would be effected by a toxic release. But the GAO says the
government has failed to take a comprehensive approach to addressing
chemical plant security. Kate McGloon is spokesperson for the American
Chemistry Council, an industry trade group. She says many
chemical-makers have already taken steps voluntarily to increase
security since 9/11. But they don’t want to reveal what those
are.


“Homeland Security has stressed to us that one of the best ways to keep
potential terrorists from knowing what they’re doing is to be
unpredictable and random and not tell people what you’re doing.”


McGloon says many chemical companies would welcome federal legislation
putting the government in charge of assessing and enforcing chemical
plant security. For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Bill Poorman.