M.O.E. MAY BE CORRUPT BUT THEY AT LEAST DO NOT LACK BRASS BALLS

Yesterday here in the Advocate we discussed the "dirty dozen". This initial list of chemicals was determined at the original Stockholm Convention. There have been since several more meetings over the years in which additions have been made to the list of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS). Some of these additions include well known and recognized Uniroyal/Chemtura contributions to the natural environment such as Lindane, Endosulphan(s), Pentachlorophenol, Hexachlorobutadiene and Pentachlorobenzene. Others I suspect as they are familiar hence I've probably seen them either in Uniroyal reports or Varnicolor Chemical soil or groundwater results. They include Polychlorinated Napthalenes and various Diphenyl Ethers . Further research is required on all of these nasty compounds.

The M.O.E. Jaagumagi and Bedard Report (1997) is truly amazing. I wonder if they and other involved researchers at the M.O.E. know exactly how little of their excellent work has resulted in improvements to the natural environment. I am just beginning to understand how ubiquitous toxic contaminants are in our natural environment and how they have transferred into the foods we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink. Unfortunately this also includes chemicals used in food production as well as water treatment to remove other contaminants. I believe that the published statistics for cancer are now up to 42% of our population will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. Many of these people will be diagnosed with multiple cancers.

I can only wonder at how wildlife are suffering. The bio-accumulation and bio-magnification of so many of Uniroyal's toxins in the aquatic environment in and around the Canagagigue Creek has been ongoing. The creek was just plain dead and devoid of all life back in the 50's, 60's and early 70's. Two of the biggest improvements were the Elmira Sewage Treatment Plant in 1965 and the Upper Aquifer Containment System in 1996. These certainly brought life back into the creek albeit life capable of tolerating stressful conditions. Unfortunately this life has been uptaking persistent organic pollutants for decades and generations. Predator fish, scavengers, mink, raccoons, birds of prey, foxes and coyotes undoubtedly have suffered as they have predated upon frogs, fish, minnows and other life forms living in and around the creek.

Our Ontario Ministry of the Environment are more than willing to spend taxpayers money on red herrings and other diversions which are intended to distract and deflect attention from the real and expensive problems and solutions . The M.O.E. don't want to fight Chemtura. They would rather fight both the public and the few activists willing to engage them. The proposed Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) will be such a red herring and costly diversion.