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There are an
estimated 7 Million illnesses and 1000 deaths each
year in the United States from waterborne microbes.
Chlorinated chemicals in drinking water from pesticides,
herbicides and refrigerants have been linked to
increased risk of breast cancer. Cyanobacterial
toxins in municipal water have been linked to illness
and disease worldwide. Sewage treatment plant workers
are at much higher risk of respiratory illness,
skin rashes, headaches and body aches. |
There are now
1460 metric tons of airborne toxins that travel
on the jet stream around the world. Because of this
there is no place on the planet that can be considered
a pristine environment. Facilities in the United
States released 4.7 Billion pounds of toxins into
the air in 2005– 72 Million pounds are known
carcinogens.In 2005 the city of Chicago experienced
68 days when the air quality was too unhealthy for
children, elderly and the ill. Coal-fired power
plants spew sulfates, nitrates and mercury into
the air. These compounds have been linked to more
than 20,000 premature deaths each year. |
Environmental
toxins work their way into the food chain. As of
late 2005, 47 states have advisories to limit intake
of freshwater fish due to mercury contamination.
In 2005, the FDA reported finding chlorinated pesticides,
like DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene –
a breakdown product of DDT), in 63% of foods surveyed.
Pesticides and Herbicides in food have been linked
to many cancers. |
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