DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ALUMINIUM SMELTER
PLANTS?
What
does our own medical authorithies have to say? Dr. Steve Smith
President of the T&T Medical Board in a published newspaper
article says "....With regard to he occupational risk, the
advertisement (Alcoa's) suggests that the Chatham community's health
concerns are based on antiquated data. This is, to me, an overt attempt
at misleading the public. P Carta, of the Department of Public
Health-Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Calgari, Italy
(in G Ital Med Lav Ergon -01-APR-2004;26(2):83-9) published an article
(mortality for pancreatic cancer among aluminum smelter workers in
Sardinia, Italy) the purpose of which was " to investigate
the relationship between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) and mortality for specific cancer sites, (in which) 1152 men,
employed for at least one year at a pre-bake aluminum smelter, were
followed-up from 1972 until December 2001. Exposure to PAH
was estimated from a detailed reconstruction of the working history
experienced in the plant by each cohort member and from several
environmental and personal shift-sampling measurements available, by
task and working department, since 1979.
- The
study found that even after controlling for cigarette smoking, the
occupational PAH exposure experienced in the anodes factory was
associated witha significantly increased risk of pancreactic
cancer. What is even of greater relevance in our local health
environment, in which we have an unaccepatbly high prevalence rate of
diabetes, is the study's finding that "pre-existent diabetes mellitus
and a potential occupational exposure to pesticides experienced in
previous agricultural jobs were found as concurrent significant
covariates increasing the risk....." A full article by Dr.
Smith http://www.nosmeltertnt.com/articles.html
HARMFUL
EMISSIONS FROM A MODERN ALUMINIUM SMELTER PLANT
Hydrogen Fluoride - lung and bladder cancer, bone deformity, teeth
decay etc.
Sulphur Dioxide - Respiratory problems, corrosive to plants and
buildings, acid rain.
Pungent Odour.
Perfluorocardon gases- Contribute to global warming, higher
temperatures and tides.
Oxides of Nitrogen - air pollution.
Benzene - highly toxic and explosive
Class 3 indicators - extremely hazardous, carcinogenic, teratogenic,
mutagenic, highly toxic.
Castor Oil - used as a lubricant when discharged is harmful to the
environment.
Polychlorinated biphenyls - group of chlorinated organic compounds,
soil contaminant.
Spent potlining (SPL)- contains fluoride and cyanide, soil contaminant.
Since the late 1970s, scientists have correlated elevated bladder
cancer rates in smelter potroom workers. In 1989, Alcoa told an
Australia newspaper that it "emphatically rejects" any such risk for
smelter workers. In the Associated Press Friday 17th December 1999.
Alcoa warned thousands of past and present employees that they may face
a greater risk than previously believed of developing lung and bladder
cancer. Symptoms take 15-20 years to manifest.
Three times as many miscarriages and more than sixteen times as many
birth defects as elsewhere. Bones are malformed.
Cancer, heart disease and artery problems runs between 2-8 times higher
as elsewhere.
Doctors noted high rates of anemia, irritability, rashes diabetes, high
blood pressure, respiratory and thyroid disease. Joint and bone
disorders.
Teachers stated that students appeared to be suffering from chronic
fatigue and complained of aching legs muscles.
In
Nadvoitsy (Karelia) - strong, throat burning odour of nitrogen sulphide
on the streets.
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"Sodium
aluminium fluoride is an essential raw material in the smelting
process, and the process does generate fluoride emissions". Alcoa
FLUORIDE & DENTAL FLUOROSIS
- Excessive ingestion of fluoride during the early childhood years can
damage the tooth-forming cells, leading to a defect in the enamel known
as dental fluorosis. Teeth impacted by fluorosis have visible
discoloration, ranging from white spots to brown and black stains. It
is currently estimated that 48% of children living in fluoridated areas
now have some form of dental fluorosis, while 12.5% of children have
fluorosis significant enough to be of "esthetic concern" (York Review,
2000). According to Dr. Hardy Limeback, Head of Preventive Dentistry at
the University of Toronto, "it is illogical to assume that tooth enamel
is the only tissue affected by low daily doses of fluoride ingestion.
FLUORIDE &
BONE DISEASE - Excessive exposure to fluoride is well
known to cause a bone disease called skeletal fluorosis.
Skeletal fluorosis, especially in its early stages, is a difficult
disease to diagnose, and can be readily confused with various forms of
arthritis including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In its
advanced stages, fluorosis can resemble a multitude of bone/joint
diseases, including: osteosclerosis, renal osteodystrophy, DISH,
spondylosis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, and secondary
hyperparathyroidism. In individuals with kidney disease, fluoride
exposure can contribute to, and/or exacerbate, renal osteodystrophy.
What does Alcoa have to say?
According to Alcoa they are "trying to achieve"
these goals:
Source:
Alcoa in Trinidad and Tobago: Environment: Global EHS Goals
60% reduction Sulphur Dioxide by year 2010
50% reduction volatile organic compounds by 2008
30% reduction nitrogen oxides by 2007
80% reduction mercury emissions by 2008
50% reduction landfill waste by 2007
60% reduction in process water use and discharge by 2008
25% reduction in green house gas emissions by 2010
How about a 100%
reduction by NOT allowing a smelter plant in Trinidad at all?
That's
the ONLY figure we can live with! |
Actual
Alcoa Newspaper
Advert from the 1950s
"There's sucker born every minute." P.T. Barnum
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