Incineration and Food
Emissions from the stacks reach
YOUR grocery sacks!
Chemical weapons incinerators are currently being constructed in Anniston, Alabama and near Hermiston, Oregon. Another chemical weapons incinerator is being planned for Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Each of these sites is surrounded by valuable farm land. Beef, chicken, fish--even potatoes grown for fast food french fries--are all grown or processed near proposed chemical weapons incinerators.
Incinerator-produced chemicals like dioxins build up in the food chain. The EPA concluded in 1994 that the health risks of consuming incinerator produced dioxin -- one of the most dangerous poisons on earth -- through the food chain are 1,000 to 10,000 times greater than the risks posed by inhalation. ("Poisoning Ourselves", Government Accountability Project, 1994)
Dangerous levels of dioxins and other toxic chemicals are already in our food. "We analyzed a dozen meat and poultry baby foods made by Gerber, Beech-Nut and Heinz for dioxins, PCBs, and related compounds. A baby who ate one jar -- just 2.5 ounces -- of an average meat based food on a given day would consume around 100 times the EPA's daily limit of dioxins." ("Consumer Reports", June 1998)
Children are the most vulnerable population. Between 1973 and 1995, children aged 0-4 years have shown an 18% increase in leukemia, a 32% increase in kidney and renal pelvis cancer, a 37% increase in soft tissue cancer, and a 53% increase in brain and nervous system cancers. (National Cancer Institute and CDC, March 1998)
Persistent chemicals have already poisoned food in Arkansas and Alabama. In July 1997, dioxin closed four Arkansas poultry plants. Hundreds of workers were idled after federal inspectors found that dioxin-contaminated feed had been used by farmers producing chicken, eggs, and catfish. ("Washington Post", July 15, 1997) In June 1998 the Alabama Department of Public Health issued a fish consumption advisory for 16 lakes and rivers in the state, due to PCBs contamination. (ADEM, June 1998)
All incinerators release heavy metals, dioxins and other toxics through the smokestack."Dioxin is formed not just in old or poorly operated incinerators, but even in the most sophisticated state-of-the-art incinerators." ("Dying from Dioxin", CCHW 1995)
Chemical weapons incinerators emit hundreds of toxics - including heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins. The two existing chemical weapons incinerators--in Utah and the Pacific--have experienced numerous shutdowns and delays due to technical and operational malfunctions. The Tooele incinerator failed its trial burn for PCBs in March of 1997 and has not been allowed to burn any M55 rockets since. There have been at least 12 known releases of chemical warfare agent from smokestacks. (CWWG, 1998; EPA, 1994)
Hudson Foods opposes incineration at Anniston, Alabama. "Hudson Foods does not support the building of an incinerator in Alabama...we will continue to resist the building of the incinerator every chance we get." (James Hudson, Chariman of the Board, April 21, 1997)
Food producers are avoiding Tooele, Utah because of the chemical weapons incinerator. Tooele County Commissioner Teryl Hunsaker said, " Even though where they were looking was far removed from the incinerator, they were scared to death the association would keep people from buying their products." ("Birmingham Post-Herald", February 10, 1997)
Since 1991, the 320,000 member North Carolina Farm Bureau has opposed incineration. Incineration "could pose a threat to agriculture and people because nobody definitely knows what would happen when you go combining those materials in an incinerator." (W.B. Jenkins, Farm Bureau President, December 11, 1991)
Bryan Foods, Keebler, Sara Lee, Ohio beef cattle and vegetable growers, and Perdue Farms, Inc also oppose incineration.
Several non-incineration technologies exist which do not emit toxics into the environment! Currently, six alternative technologies are being tested for disposal of chemical weapons. Incineration has already been abandoned in Maryland and Indiana in favor of safer technologies. Kentucky and Colorado are also moving toward non-incineration disposal methods. With continued support from local, state and federal officials, alternative technologies could be available to ALL chemical weapons sites in the near future. (ACWA, 1998)
To help protect our food from the dangers of chemical weapons incineration, contact the agribusinesses listed below. Tyson Foods operates facilities near Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Anniston, Alabama. Gold Kist also operates a facility near Anniston.
In your letters or phone calls: Ask the companies to support food-safe chemical weapons disposal technologies instead of dangerous incinerators. Let them know that your family's health is important. Remind them that safe technologies would protect not only public health and the environment, but their company's profits and reputation. The length of a letter is not important; one good paragraph can speak volumes.
Mr. Leland E. Tollet
Chairman of the Board and CEO
Tyson Foods, Inc.
2210 W. Oakland Drive
Springdale, AR 72762-6900
(501) 290-4000
Tyson has chicken plants near proposed
incinerators in both Arkansas and Alabama
Gaylord O. Coan
President and Chief Operating Officer
Gold Kist Inc.
244 Perimeter Center Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30346-2302
(770) 393-5000
Gold Kist has a poultry plant in Alabama
I am aware that you have a poultry plant near proposed chemical weapons incinerators in Anniston, Alabama and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. As a customer who feeds your chicken to my family I am very concerned about the health impact of incinerator emissions on the food we consume.
I understand there are safer technologies for chemical weapons disposal available which do not release toxic chemicals into the environment.
I urge you to act now and take a stand in support of these safer technologies and protect the future of your business. Because my family's health is very important to me, I will be buying my food products from producers who take an active stand for a healthy environment.
Thank you for your concern, Jane Doe
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