Representative Nancy Pelosi Asks for Release of EPA Reevaluation of Dioxin

Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) 2aug01

WASHINGTON --  Today forty-one Members of Congress, led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), called on the Bush Administration to finalize and release a landmark report on the health effects of dioxin. Chemicals in the dioxin family, formed primarily as a byproduct of industrial activities, are highly toxic, long-lasting, travel long distances through the air, and accumulate as they move up the food chain into humans.

"The risk of cancer from dioxin may be higher than one in a thousand for the general population. But cancer isn't the only hazard. Dioxin causes a wide range of other health problems, including reproductive, developmental, immunological, and endocrine effects in both animals and humans. Children are especially vulnerable.

"Dioxin has become so widespread in the environment that almost all living creatures, including people, are exposed to it. The EPA has been studying the health effects of dioxin for almost 20 years. It is high time for this report to be released, so that we can move quickly to address the dangers of dioxin," Pelosi said.

The letter was sent to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Christine Todd Whitman, and requested that the dioxin report be released to the public by the end of the summer. EPA's Science Advisory Board has reviewed the report and recommended that it be finalized.

August 2, 2001

Honorable Christine Todd Whitman
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Ariel Rios building
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Whitman:

We are writing to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize and release the reassessment of dioxin exposure and human health effects, "Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds," by the end of the summer.

The American people have already waited a long time-more than ten years-for the completion and release of the Dioxin Reassessment. EPA has been studying the sources and health effects of dioxin for nearly 20 years, and this report is the most comprehensive health risk assessment ever prepared by the agency.

The Dioxin Reassessment finds that dioxin causes a wide array of adverse health effects. The risk of cancer from dioxin exposure may exceed one in 1000 for the general population-a level a thousand times higher than the risk level of one in a million that is generally considered acceptable for cancer. The risk is higher for workers and others with higher levels of exposure. Dioxin also causes numerous non-cancer health problems, including reproductive, immunological, developmental, and endocrine system effects.

By signing the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants this spring, the Administration officially recognized that dioxin is hazardous. Parties to the treaty are committed to a number of significant steps to eliminate or reduce the production, use and release of 12 persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxin. While recognizing that it will be a challenge to completely eliminate dioxin, since it is a by-product of industrial activities, the treaty calls for its "continuing minimization and where feasible, ultimate elimination." Given U.S. support for the POPs treaty, it is imperative that we move ahead with the Dioxin Reassessment, which will provide a basis for domestic policies on dioxin.

We understand that the Dioxin Reassessment will be circulated to an inter-agency review committee. We hope this next step in the process will be completed in a timely fashion, to avoid additional delays in the release of the study. We ask that you proceed expeditiously, as recommended by the Science Advisory Board, to complete and release this important public health document by the end of this summer.

Thank you to your attention to our concerns and for your commitment to human health and the environment.

Sincerely,