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 DIOXIN LABELED A HUMAN CARCINOGEN

AmeriScan: May 17, 2000

Washington, DC, May 17, 2000 (ENS) - A draft report from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), obtained Tuesday by the
"Washington Post," concludes for the first time that the chemical
dioxin is a "human carcinogen." The report also projects risks from
dioxin exposure that are about 10 times as high as previous estimates.

Although there are some natural sources of dioxin, most dioxin found
in the environment comes from industrial sources - medical and
municipal waste incineration and the production of pulp and paper
products that uses chlorine in the bleaching process. An EPA report in
January fingered backyard trash burning as another major source of
dioxin. Dioxin was the chemical in the defoliant Agent Orange that has
been linked to numerous illnesses in Vietnam veterans. Environmental
levels of dioxin peaked in the 1970s before many sources came under
EPA regulations aimed at reducing their hazards. Between 1987 and
1995, industrial emissions of dioxins have fallen by about 80 percent,
the EPA says. Additional rules introduced in recent years will place
new restrictions on dioxin sources.

Because dioxin builds up in fatty tissues, people who eat large
amounts of fatty animal foods such as meat, cheese and other dairy
products, could run a one in 100 risk of developing cancer, the EPA
draft says. Exposure to low amounts of the chemical have been linked
to developmental and hormonal problems, particularly in children, who

may ingest dioxin in breast milk. EPA's dioxin reassessment was
undertaken in 1991 at the behest of industry, which hoped a review
would exonerate the chemical. Instead, a draft reassessment in
September 1994 found that dioxin was even more hazardous than
previously thought. This latest report, based on recent laboratory
studies and huge epidemiological studies from the U.S. and Europe, is
scheduled for release in June. "This report shows that dioxin

threatens the health of every American," said Lois Marie Gibbs,
executive director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice,
in response to the "Washington Post" story.

EPA: DIOXIN CANCER RISK 10 TIMES HIGHER

May 18, 2000

EPA DRAFT REPORT CONCLUDES 'NORMAL' DIET MAY CONTAIN DIOXIN

A draft of a much-anticipated report by the Environmental Protection
Agency concludes for the first time that dioxin is a "human
carcinogen," The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

If the final report reflects the draft's findings, dioxin would be
identified as one of the most potent chemical toxins known to science.
It is expected to be released in June accompanied by an evaluation by
scientific reviewers.

For the small part of the population who ingest large amounts of meats
and dairy products that are relatively high in dioxins, the odds of
developing cancer could be as high as 1 in 100, the report says. That
estimate places the risk 10 times as high as the EPA's previous
projections.

Low-grade exposure to dioxin is linked to a number of other health
problems, including changes in hormone levels as well as developmental
defects in babies and children.