Exposure to toxic pollution from industrial facilities continues in communities in Indiana and across the country, according to a new report released today by the Indiana Public Interest Research Group (INPIRG).

The report, Toxic Pollution and Health, uses information from the federal Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) to analyze toxic pollution linked to serious health problems such as cancer, birth defects or neurological damage.

In releasing the report the group said that due to a recent EPA action restricting the public’s right-to-know, today’s report may provide one of the last complete pictures of toxic pollution in Indiana.

In 2004, Indiana ranked 4th in the country for air and water releases of toxic chemicals that are known to cause developmental defects, which can interfere with normal human development and cause a wide range of health problems including fetal death, heart abnormalities, hormonal and immune system problems.

In 2004, Porter County ranked 14th and Lake County ranked 16th in the nation for total air and water releases of dioxins, the report said.

Dioxins, long regarded as among the most toxic chemicals known to science, can alter the growth and development of cells and lead to adverse effects on reproduction and development, suppression of the immune system, and cancer.

“This report confirms that communities across Indiana are routinely put at risk by toxic pollution linked to serious health impacts,” said LuCinda Hohmann, Field Associate for INPIRG.

“The first step to reducing toxic pollution is making this information available to the public.”

The federal Toxic Release Inventory is a public right-to-know program that requires industrial facilities to publicly disclose their toxic releases. In 2004, EPA reported that the TRI has helped to reduce toxic pollution by 57% nationwide since its inception in 1988. Despite this success, the EPA recently weakened the program by authorizing industrial facilities to withhold previously reported pollution information.

“To address the potential health threats from toxic pollution, we need full information about what toxics are being released, where, and in what amounts,” said Hohmann. “Unfortunately, EPA’s attack on the public’s right-to-know means that Hoosiers will be left in the dark about toxic pollution.”

Representatives Pallone (D-NJ) and Solis (D-CA) as well as Senators Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Boxer (D-CA) recently challenged EPA’s rollbacks by introducing the Toxic Right-to-Know Protection Act (H.R. 1055 and S. 595). This legislation would reverse the rollbacks and restore the lost data and ensure that communities have full and complete access to toxic pollution information.

“We call on U.S. Representatives Peter Visclosky and Joe Donnelly to support the public’s right to know and protect our communities by cosponsoring this legislation.”

To view a full copy of the report, visit INPIRG’s website at www.inpirg.org

INPIRG is a non-profit, non-partisan environmental and consumer protection advocacy group.

Posted 3/22/2007