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Corporate control over government goes on

Posted 1/21/11

To the Editor: On October 27-29 2010, the US EPA Science Advisory Board Dioxin Review Panel met to deliberate on the subject of dioxin exposure cancer risk pursuant to providing its comments to US …

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Corporate control over government goes on

Posted

To the Editor:

On October 27-29 2010, the US EPA Science Advisory Board Dioxin Review Panel met to deliberate on the subject of dioxin exposure cancer risk pursuant to providing its comments to US EPA on the 2010 draft “EPA Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments” report.

It appears to be the position of the advisory panel that EPA should make an attempt to quantify the uncertainties associated with its analysis of dioxin exposure cancer risk.

Thus, it is likely that EPA will continue to work on the dioxin reassessment rather than finalize it. So long as EPA postpones finalization of the reassessment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) will avoid any action on the science published since the mid 1990s on the subject of dioxin exposure cancer outcome. In New York State, as in the rest of the US, scientific knowledge will not be used to prevent dioxin exposure cancer outcome. Therefore, more New York State residents will develop cancer because of dioxin exposure than would have been the case if actions to decrease exposure were being taken by DEC and DOH. DEC fails to regulate dioxin sources including incinerators in a public health protective manner. There is no requirement for continuous emissions monitoring for dioxins despite the fact that such technology exists and is utilized in Europe. The dioxin emissions of New York State incinerators are unknown.

The only data that exists on this subject consists of once a year stack testing upon notice to the facility. DOH fails to educate the public on the dioxin contamination of all animal fat foods. It is an outrage that government can fail so miserably and yet continue in power. The truth of this matter is that corporations control our government. Commerce is given top priority and the people get cancer regardless of what is known among scientists and government personnel regarding dioxin exposure cancer risk.

There is a great need for a non-violent revolution in the United States that would break the control of corporations over state and federal government.

Our organization is committed to the creation of such a revolution. Hopefully, as the years of cancer epidemic pass by more and more people will join into this effort to throw off the domination of corporate overlords and have a country that makes the strongest effort possible to provide its citizens with the unpolluted environment that is essential to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Viva the Revolution.

Donald L. Hassig, Director

Cancer Action NY

Colton