Friday, July 28, 2006

Cancer risk

Well, of course we know that this administration doesn't care if you get cancer. Take a look at this information from an article entitled "Study: Water contaminant can causes cancer":

WASHINGTON - Growing scientific evidence suggests the most widespread industrial contaminant in drinking water — a solvent used in adhesives, paint and spot removers — can cause cancer in people.

The National Academy of Sciences reported Thursday that a lot more is known about the cancer risks and other health hazards from exposure to trichloroethylene than there was five years ago when the Environmental Protection Agency took steps to regulate it more strictly.

TCE, which is also widely used to remove grease from metal parts in airplanes and to clean fuel lines at missile sites, is known to cause cancer in some laboratory animals. EPA was blocked from elevating its assessment of the chemical's risks in people by the Defense Department, Energy Department and NASA, all of which have sites polluted with it.
...
A committee of academy experts said "a large body of epidemiologic data is available" on TCE showing the chemical is a possible cause of kidney cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, impaired neurological function and autoimmune disease.
...
In 2001, EPA issued a draft document saying the risks of TCE causing cancer in humans were higher than previously thought. But that pronouncement was dropped after other federal agencies accused EPA of inflating the risks.


Okay, here's what I don't understand about pollution and right wingers. Do they think they're immune from the risks? Do they think that just because they suppress the information that they and their children will never be exposed to environmental contamination? You would think that simple enlightened self-interest would mean that everyone would want clean air and clean water regardless of political affiliation.

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