The recent piec
e about the decline of the bald eagle in the Allegan County News & Gazette spoke loudly to my concerns about our environment and our health when it comes to the choices we make or don’t make. Our mistakes and carelessness affect not only us now, but also our future.
The December 2014 issue of National Geographic stated that the U.S. has 47,000 hazardous waste sites, with 1700 being designated as Superfund Sites. Sixty of those are in Michigan. We are leaving a toxic legacy.
Benzene, xylene, ethanol, methanol, arsenic, lead, toluene, formaldehyde, and radionuclides/radon are some of the toxic chemicals we are exposed to with high volume horizontal fracturing. These contaminants reach human receptors through our contact with the air, soil, water and even our food. This leaves us susceptible to cancers, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and reproductive problems.
Our children are even more vulnerable because of their size and developing organs. Children tend to play outside more, increasing their exposure. They are less able to metabolize and excrete the chemicals, and because they are exposed younger, this leaves them exposed for many more years.
Maryland just passed a 2.5-year ban on fracking, following the bans in New York and Vermont. What could be more important than our right to a safe and healthy environment?
Contact your local and state legislators immediately demanding that they take a stand to protect the public from the known dangers of HVHF and the disposal of its waste.
Reputable resources: www.concernedhealthny.org www.psehealthyenergy.org
Karen Fifelski, Hopkins
