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E,/ery'~v~ek new information <br /> -emerges to st. ggest that there is <br /> ,good reason to be concerned <br /> about the health and environmen- <br />· ,t~[ effects of' burning garbage. <br />~Wjth that in mind, I find it hard <br />:m_-understand why the Star Trib- <br />~tme would take the Minneapolis <br />City Council to task for wanting <br />to delay construction of the down- <br />-to~'n incinerator until council <br />-m~mbers are convinced that the <br />.f0cility is ~afe., .,, <br /> -'~l i .... ,. · <br /> .Such new information includes: <br /> <br />,· In~'Febmary, the Environmental · Operati~g and proposed' in~in- <br />:l~r.otection Agency released data '~erators are being shut down' or <br />lqn. gtil analysis from a residential :"defeated as 'i:itizens become more <br />-inejghbort.,ood not far from Phila-. aware of the hazards of burning <br />:delphia's Northwest incinerator. -' garbage. National coalitions ofett- <br />,l~ioxin concentrations Were al- izens opposed to burning garbage <br />.most 50 fi:nes higher than in any · are springing up to coordinate the <br />-other ;is~lum soil irt'. the nation. -~'~': efforts of local groups around the' <br />~ontaminati0n was seven times nation. " <br /> <br />cmore severe than safe levels. <br /> <br />-~In a smwey comparing ·more <br />than l,O00 ~Vietnfim veterans ex: <br />posed to dioxin-contaminated <br />Agent Orange' .with veterans 'not <br />exposed tO dioxin, the U.S. Air <br />Force found ':ele;/aied ;'ie~tels' of <br />{:~cer, birth defectx;:psychologi- <br />damage, impai/~I liv¢~'fane, <br />[}on and glandula~ malfunction.' ' <br /> <br />II The m0St.:'t~.ent.-~national <br />~}ey round'their 90 ix~rceni of U.S. <br />c~tizens., hav~ '~nough 'dioxin': in <br />their tis~'ue to'increase risk of can- <br />ce~ and birth defects significantly. <br />O~rbage ini:i~/i~rafion' is the .mOst <br />iniportant single'SOurce of dioxin <br />in,our envirbnment. ~ ...:,-.. ~.- -. <br /> <br />Tasts of residues coming out of <br />:inISneratbrsffind high le';,elS 'of <br />ttad, Cadrhium and dioxin, often <br />h~i[h' enough .for" the ash to be <br />cohsidered a hkzardous'waste. .-- - <br /> <br />E~en secure, lined landfills are <br /> <br />'~'leaking' around the country. One' <br />· 'landfill designed specifically 'for <br />ash disposal has contaminated <br />leachate 13 times higher than fed- <br />erai drinking water standards for <br />lead. · ..... ' ..... <br /> <br /> · The EPA is preparing to lower <br /> its acceptable level for lead in the <br /> bloodstreams of children. Over 80 <br /> percent of American children al- <br /> ready have more than this much <br /> lead in their bodies, risking learn- <br /> , ing disabilities, intelligence loss <br /> . and brain damage <br /> <br /> · Cities that have o'pted n0Cio <br /> pour money ,into'. incinei'ators <br /> have tamed their attention to'Te- ' <br /> cycling 'and ~r&luction-' programs. <br /> The~' ~mmunities are making <br /> good 'use of thousands Of tons of <br /> trash' and ':keePing' 'them 'out of ... <br /> <br /> citizen~'~ arid :~public-~-offiCials~ <br /> should remain-open-to the chang-'-~ <br /> ing face of :solid-waste issue~' in" :-- <br /> this country:'i Congratulations ::to :'~2' <br />· the members'of the City Council. <br /> who are 'willing to admit that the <br /> garbage burner, is a mistake and <br /> who a!re WOrking hard to institute <br /> alternatives2 It is time for Henne- .. <br /> pin County Cbmmissioners as well ' <br /> to listen to their constituents who . <br /> know that burning garbage poses a <br /> long-'term toxic threat to our,' <br /> health and environment. ' ".- ' <br /> Joseph Thornton, Chieag0.'T~S''~- <br /> campaigner for,' Greenpeace ~and ... <br /> former director of Greenpeace <br /> Minnesota. · '¥,:: .... · .,.-:: "::, · .. <br /> <br /> <br />