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LTE: The US Needs to Better Protect Its Citizens
Friday, March 29, 2024 at 9:15PM The US Needs to Better Protect Its Citizens
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently enacted the Comprehensive Asbestos Bill, and we must ask the question, why has it taken so long? We know there are hundreds of toxic chemicals that lead to disease in this country, yet why is the US one of the last to protect its own citizens?
Asbestos has been a known carcinogen for decades, causing over 40,000 deaths in the US every year, and now our government is finally banning it. In 2016, during the Obama administration, the federal government passed legislation to update the 1976 Toxic Substance Control Act, but why did it take 40 years to update a bill on toxic substances?
Twenty-two years ago, I founded the Community Health and Environment Coalition to address the high rate of cancer in the area. I wanted to know why it was happening and how to prevent it. Community members, elected officials, and health professionals challenged the NYS Department of Health to do more. The Health Department did this by launching an investigation but left us with more questions than answers. During the investigation, most residents expressed concerns about our environment, particularly our water. Twenty-two years later we have identified toxic chemicals in our water including PFAS forever chemicals and 1.4 Dioxane.
Decades of illegal dumping, military and industrial use of toxic chemicals dumped in the ground, and now banned pesticides have contributed to our long toxic chemical legacy. We are finally seeing some progress after years of grassroots environmental advocacy and government policy proactively holding those responsible, but more must be done.
As the chemical industry continues to exert power over the government, we must understand that cheap utilitarian toxic chemicals may seem helpful at first, but the long-term health effects may negate any cost savings and may put our lives at risk.
It’s been over 20 years since the Twin Towers 9/11 attack that killed thousands of people. Many first responders have suffered delayed symptoms and continue to lose their lives due to exposure to toxic chemicals. Now that we better understand the long-term health effects of toxic exposure, we must hold those responsible and do more to protect lives.
Sarah S. Anker
Former Suffolk County Legislator
(Sarah S. Anker is a candidate for NYS Senate in 1st Senate District)
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