for more information:
Elizabeth Crowe: (859) 986-0868
for immediate release: Thursday, April 17, 2003
New polling data released today by the Alliance for Safe Alternatives shows that nearly two out of three voters in states in different regions of the U.S. are highly concerned about the unique dangers posed by persistent toxic chemicals in our air, water, land and food. As a result of this concern, more than 80% of those polled support a comprehensive policy to phase out such chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives.
Citizens fighting chemical weapons incinerators point to this data as supporting their call for technologies which can prevent the uncontrolled release of toxic chemicals. Chemical weapons incinerators release persistent chemicals such as PCBs (found in the shipping containers of rockets), heavy metals and dioxins which, even in minute quantities, can cause cancer, birth defects, and other chronic illnesses.
The poll represents one of the first comprehensive studies of voter opinion on persistent toxic chemicals. Among they key findings of the survey were the following:
Nearly half of those polled said that the toxic chemicals in land, air, water and food represented an "extremely" or "very serious" problem in their state; After hearing a description of the factors that distinguish persistent toxic chemicals from other toxics, two out of three voters indicated that they were "extremely" or "very concerned" about the problems posed by such chemicals; More than four out of five voters in each state said they supported a proposal to phase out persistent toxic chemicals, replace them with safer alternatives, and clean up the contamination they have caused.
"Once people understand how dangerous these chemicals are, most agree that we need to prevent our exposure to these toxics," said Elizabeth Crowe of the Chemical Weapons Working Group. "Solutions to the problems of toxic chemical exposures are here, from using safer industrial materials to using safer technologies than incineration to destroy what we have already produced."
The Chemical Weapons Working Group has received accolades from citizens and lawmakers alike, for its work to secure safer, non-incineration technologies for the destruction of the U.S. stockpile of lethal chemical weapons. Four U.S. sites, Indiana, Maryland, Colorado and Kentucky, have already chosen technologies that can destroy the chemical agents and other contaminated materials while controlling these chemicals in a contained environment. These technologies are a significant improvement over incinerators, which release toxics through poorly-monitored smokestacks, into the environment.
CWWG Director Craig Williams said, "Unfortunately, too many state and federal elected officials have not been willing to go to the mat to provide the same level of protection to their local constituents."
Karyn Jones' group GASP supports the use of non-incineration technologies for disposal of the chemical weapons stored near her hometown of Hermiston, Oregon. Jones said, "I hope that our elected officials will receive this message loud and clear: people who understand that safe alternatives are available, will support them. If other states can use technology to prevent toxic exposures, so can we. Nothing should be more important than preventing our children from exposure to these toxics, and we will continue to work to make it happen."
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