Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Do You Have Toxic Neighbors?

Two things caught my attention strongly this week.

First, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine came the results of a study done on the incidences of Autism in proximity to point sources of environmental Mercury release.

An investigation on the release of mercury in the environment by the Environmental Protection Agency and autism count data collected by the Texas Educational Agency between 1998 and 2002 found that for every 1000 pounds of industrial release, there was a corresponding 2.6% increase in autism rates and a 3.7% increase associated with power plant emissions.

These findings are so significant that they have warranted further investigation.

In researching this more, I found a very enlightening section in the Dallas Morning News regarding industrial sites abutting residential neighborhoods.

Dallas county, alone, has 900 sites that house industrial chemicals.

Poor city planning and haphazard zoning has put industrial areas in close proximity to many residential areas, businesses, and even schools.

I highly recommend you read the entire incredibly interesting investigative report.

As someone who is increasingly interested in finding better, safer ways for the industrialization of our country, I found these stories to be very insightful!

2 comments:

  1. Good God you're a regular Erin Brockovich! Seriously, though--as someone who worked for years in the Special Education and Disabilities Sector of the Education Industry, I would definitely agree that if there is a way to possibly cut down the rate of individuals affected by AUTISM we should educate ourselves and take action. If the industrial manufacturing and processing industry have FACTUALLY caused such a disorder in so much as a single case (could the autism cases themselves be linked in terms of levels of particular toxins found in their blood?) heavy restitution, for starters, would certainly be owed.

    Great post Stephanie. Hopefully we get to see some more info on the subject!

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  2. I am working on a follow-up report on this and hope to post it soon! Thanks, Matt!

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