CHEJ’s Statement on EPA Plan to Finalize Study on Dioxin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday August 30, 2011

CONTACT: Mike Schade, CHEJ, mike(at)chej.org / 212.964.3680

CHEJ Statement on EPA Plan to Finalize Study on Dioxin, One of Most Toxic Chemicals Known to Science

Falls Church, VA — The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) issued the following statement today in response to the EPA Science Advisory Board’s (SAB) completion of their dioxin report, and EPA’s announcement to finalize their long-delayed study on dioxin.

“We commend the EPA for continuing to move forward to finalize their study on dioxin, an extremely toxic chemical that even babies are exposed to in the womb,” said Lois Marie Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ).

Gibbs continued, “In their final report released  on Friday, the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) panel called on EPA to “move in a proficient and expeditious manner” to finalize the dioxin study.  Ten years ago, another EPA SAB panel also urged EPA to also complete and release this report “expeditiously.”  How much longer will we have to wait?  EPA pledged to finalize and release this report by the end of 2010 but missed their self-imposed deadline.  For over 20 years, EPA’s study on dioxin has been delayed time after time.  We call on EPA to move as quickly as possible in finalizing the Dioxin Reassessment.  American families have been exposed to this poisonous chemical for far too long.  Dioxin is one of the most toxic chemicals known to science and has been targeted for international phase-out by a treaty signed by over 170 nations across the world.  Every American eats dioxins when they consume fatty foods, and every American has measurable levels of this chemical in their body.”

ATTENTION JOURNALISTS:

EPA’s press release is available here: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/1e5ab1124055f3b28525781f0042ed40/dae0812e5b4ef50e852578fb0057355b!OpenDocument

Additional background material on dioxin is available here: http://chej.org/campaigns/besafe/projects/dioxin/

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About the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)

The Center for Health, Environment & Justice exists to mentor the movement to build healthier communities by empowering people to prevent harm caused by chemical and toxic threats.  We accomplish our work by connecting local community groups to national initiatives and corporate campaigns.  CHEJ works with communities to empower groups by providing the tools, strategic vision, and encouragement they need to advocate for human health and the prevention of harm.

Following her successful effort to prevent further harm for the people living in contaminated Love Canal, Lois Gibbs founded CHEJ in 1981 in order to continue the journey.  To date, CHEJ has assisted over 11,000 groups nationwide.  Details on CHEJ’s efforts to help people and communities prevent harm can be found at http://chej.org/.