Village leaders secretly used a community well they knew was contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals (contaminated with dry cleaning fluid). "Then they repeatedly lied about it in documents intended to assure the public their drinking water was safe. . . Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
had told them in 1986 that it was contaminated with vinyl chloride and
dichloroethylene, toxic chemicals related to the dry-cleaning solvent
perchloroethylene, or perc." The cancer rate for the community was significantly elevated, according to the Illinois Dept. of Public Health. Read More at Chicago Tribune, Feds Indict 2 over tainted Crestwood well. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-officals-indicted-over-tainted-crestwood-well-20110811,0,5153747.story Children's EPA comments: - Those who become injured by tainted water often incur medical bills the result in home foreclosures and break-ups of marriages because of the stress and injustice of toxic injuries.
- How do we punished those who do this?
- How do we protect communities from cover-ups and lies about safety for adults and children?
- Blame is easy, but how do you hold those responsible accountable?
- What went wrong and how do we as a country and nation ascertain that water provided by community water systems is "safe" for both adults and children?
- Why do US politicians refuse to provide a separate standard of "safety" and "safe" levels of environmental and chemical hazards for children? The US EPA recognizes that vulnerable populations, including children, are more susceptible to harm from environmental pollutants and hazardous chemicals. The term "safe" only applies to a healthy, mature, male, worker. As with medication dosages, what is a safe level of exposure for a grown man can kill or seriously injury a child.
Toxic Justice, when published, will illustrate problems and conflicts of interest within the three branches of our government. That failure fosters cover ups and failures to hold those responsible for environmental and chemical injuries to an effective and sufficient level of accountability. Author Nancy Swan is also Director of Children's EPA and hosts Community Forums. Become a member or organization member of Children's EPA by emailing request to Nancy Swan at cepaorg@gmail.com You can also join on LinkedIn by joining the group: Children's Environmental Protection Alliance. Help by sharing this blog on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. | 