WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. industries annually release billions of pounds of chemicals known or suspected of causing cancer, neurological problems, developmental disorders and other health disorders, a consumer advocacy group charged in a report released Wednesday.
There is no clear evidence the released chemicals result in an increase in specific diseases, but only because the nation lacks a system for monitoring the effects of these toxins once they are released into the air and water, Jeremiah Baumann of U.S. Public Interest Research Group, said at a news briefing on the report, which is based on figures industry reported to the Environmental Protection Agency.
"It's not that there aren't links; it's that no one is looking for links," Baumann said.
There are anecdotal reports of increased cases of cancer and other diseases among people living near facilities pumping out toxins that suggest a link between the release of these chemicals and health problems, Baumann told United Press International.
In Tom's River and Dover, N.J., a cluster of childhood cancers, including leukemia and cancer of the brain, occurred beyond what normally would be expected. An investigation by the New Jersey Health Department released last week concluded the leukemia in girls could have been caused by their mother's exposure to water from contaminated wells and to air emissions from the now-closed Ciba-Geigy manufacturing plant.
In another instance in Fallon, Nev., a cluster of childhood leukemia cases is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Initial results revealed high levels of tungsten and arsenic in the patients' urine. Tungsten is mined in Nevada and high levels of arsenic historically have been detected in the drinking water around Fallon.
These chemicals previously have not been linked to this form of cancer but arsenic is linked to several adult cancers. The CDC is to present the final results of its investigation in February.
To address the situation, PIRG called on Congress to increase funding for CDC's recently begun program for tracking diseases related to exposure to environmental chemicals.
"Without adequate public health systems for tracking environmental exposures and potentially related disease, we don't know how this pollution is affecting our health," said Meghan Purvis, an environmental health associate with PIRG. "It should be an urgent priority for federal decision-makers to establish nationwide health-tracking systems."
Last year, Congress approved funding for CDC to launch pilot tracking projects in 20 state and local health departments. PIRG wants that funding increased to $32 billion to implement a nationwide health-tracking system. This would track chronic diseases in all 50 states and would allow researchers to compare that data with pollution data to determine if released toxins are associated with an increase in specific diseases, Baumann said.
"The goal of the program is to become a nationwide tracking program" and to expand it to all 50 states, the CDC's Judy Kualters, who is overseeing the pilot projects, told UPI.
The pilot projects will be "looking at ... exposure to environmental hazards as well as the health effects of exposure," CDC spokesman Llelwyn Grant told UPI.
Examples of the kinds of chemicals the projects will monitor include the relationship between asbestos and lung cancer, and a potential link between chlorine and bladder cancer, he added.
"The awarded money was just recently given to those 20 state and local health departments so we're literally at the beginning stages," he said.
The PIRG report, "Toxic Releases and Health," culled data from the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory, which contains industry reports detailing annual releases of toxic chemicals. Most of these chemicals are released as part of the normal operating routine of industrial plants. The report focused on chemicals recognized by the U.S. government, the California state government, or an advocacy group, Environmental Defense, as being known or suspected to cause health problems.
PIRG found more than 100 million pounds of cancer-causing chemicals were released in 2000, with Texas, Pennsylvania and Indiana topping the list for these. The most frequently released carcinogen was dichloromethane, a chemical used as an industrial solvent and in the manufacture of film.
More than 188 million pounds of compounds linked to development and reproductive problems were released in 2000. Tennessee had the largest total release of these chemicals, followed by Alabama and Illinois. Toluene and carbon disulfide topped the list as chemicals released in the greatest quantities.
Industries released more than 1 billion pounds of toxins suspected of causing neurological problems. The greatest amounts were released in Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana. The solvent methanol, which is also a by-product of wood pulping, was the most common neurotoxin released.
Other significant releases included 7,000 grams of dioxin, suspected of causing cancer, developmental, reproductive, neurological and respiratory problems; more than 1.5 million pounds of lead or lead-containing compounds known to cause mental problems; and, 166,000 pounds of mercury or mercury compounds, also linked to mental problems.
Purvis noted TRI contains only 700 of the 80,000 chemicals on the market. In addition, the database only contains releases from the largest facilities in a limited number of industries so the total release of toxic chemicals is likely to be much greater.
The report also notes release of toxic chemicals appears to be on the decline. From 1995 to 2000, the amount of toxic chemicals reported to TRI decreased by 23 percent for respiratory toxins, 31 percent for neurological toxins, 49 percent for reproductive toxins and 41 percent for carcinogens.
The Environmental Protection Agency did not return phone calls from UPI seeking comment.
