Illinois Shows Worst Increase in Cancer-Causing Air Emissions

The State of Illinois had the greatest increase in cancer-causing chemicals emitted into its air, while at the same time such emissions dropped 8.4% in the country as a whole, according to the latest public data as analyzed on www.scorecard.org, the Environmental Defense Fund’s Chemical Scorecard web site. Illinois’ increase was nearly 1 million lbs. of recognized carcinogens, and the decrease nationwide was 13 million lbs.

Emissions of ozone-depleting chemicals dropped in all but two states, led by California (which decreased by 1,000,000 lbs. Of CFC-11 equivalents), Texas (54,000 lbs. of decrease), and Kentucky (41,000 lbs. of decrease). The overall decrease nationwide was 40% in a single year (between 1995 and 1996, the last two reported years), or 5,500,000 lbs. of CFC-11 equivalents. This impressive drop reflects implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which aims to eliminate the production of some of these chemicals and limit the production of others.

All of the latest pollution release data are analyzed on the award-winning EDF Chemical Scorecard web site. An instant success with the public when it was launched last April, the EDF Chemical Scorecard fielded over 1 million hits in its first two days of operation and continues to provide free, clear, localized facts on chemical pollution to several times as many users as the Federal government’s official web site.

“Today we are announcing not only what’s new in pollution data, but also new ways for the community to make its voice heard,” said EDF senior scientist Bill Pease. “People can now react directly to companies and to each other. They can link up on-line with any other Scorecard user who’s concerned about the same kind of pollution issues.” The EDF Scorecard now includes an interconnected network of community Discussion Forums that lets users easily find and talk to others within the same community; or who are interested in the same chemical, or company, or industry.

“Information is power when it’s put to use,” said EDF senior attorney David Roe. “We’re hoping to bring people together about chemical pollution issues in every affected community — and in the on-line communities that the Internet makes possible.” Among other new features, Scorecard lets polluting facilities post their own comments for public view, and invites facilities that have made safety claims to publicize the facts necessary to back those claims up.”

This update of Scorecard incorporates recently released official data on pollution releases for the most current available year, 1996. Scorecard combines chemical release data with health effects information from over 150 other databases to spotlight the environmental performance of companies and to help members of the public understand the significance of reported releases of toxic chemicals into their environment.