Indoors/Outdoors

[Guest guest]

In a newspaper article, on the dangers of toxic chemicals in new shower

curtains, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official said:

" The EPA does not regulate indoor air, period, " said Barbara Spark, the indoor

air program coordinator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. " We have not

been given that authority by the Congress. "

If you follow EPA logic, to its ultimate conclusion, you get the following

paradox. The EPA won't lift a finger to prevent your shower curtain from

poisoning you, while you are taking a shower, indoors. But, after reading this

newspaper article, you decide to take your shower curtain OUTSIDE, and burn it,

or bury it in the ground, you are liable for arrest, for violating federal law

regarding putting these poisons, INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

http://tinyurl.com/44ot6h

Now, unless I am more brain-dead than usual, this woman is the " coordinator "

for a program that she says DOES NOT EXIST. The above link, goes to the

article. The below link goes to what constitutes the " program " that the EPA has,

online, to inform and educate the public, about indoor mold. It is a very good

information source. Is the EPA spending all this time and money, to uncover the

truth, without anyone in government willing to ACT on this info to SAVE LIVES?

Joe

http://www.epa.gov/mold/index.html

[Guest guest]

Joe,

The amounts of toxics they can dump without making a report is pretty

high now, I think up to several hundred kilograms, quite a lot more

than the weight of s shower curtain, even if it was made out of pure

mercury or another toxic. They didn't make it poisonous intentionally.

They just wanted to make it soft and smooth. Thats not criminal. It

wouldnt sell if it was crinkly. You must be thinking about Europe or

something.

They just relaxed the regs. A lot of businesses were complaining about

bad publicity because of being in the EPA database and complaints from

neighbors when they realized that they were dumping toxics, so the

Bush administration raised the reporting limits.

Poof!

Also, even if one was dumping toxics, its is doubtful that anyone

would be arrested, they might be subject to a warning letter, and then

if the dumping continued, they might be subjected to a symbolic fine,

but the enforcement budgets are small and the numbers of violators is

big. They have to pick which ones who to prosecute. They don't want to

appear business unfriendly and lose their pensions if they got fired.

So, I think that violators who have been proven to have caused deaths

of children, or people of employable, childbearing age, might rate

higher in the priority scale. In some states, like your own New York,

its not worth suing if old people die, they aren't losing any income.

(ask your lawyer about that one!) Even if they get hit by a truck, as

long as it wasn't intentional, there is nothing you can do. Thats the

way the law works. If you don't like it, change it! (Thats why

unemployed or older people, or children should not be pedestrians in

New York except 'at their own risk'.)

Like EPA, OSHA very rarely prosecutes on criminal charges. Around two

a year, out of thousands of complaints.

" Don't worry, Be Happy! "

On Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 8:09 PM, Joe Salowitz <josephsalowitz@...> wrote:

>

> If you follow EPA logic, to its ultimate conclusion, you get the following

> paradox. The EPA won't lift a finger to prevent your shower curtain from

> poisoning you, while you are taking a shower, indoors. But, after reading

> this newspaper article, you decide to take your shower curtain OUTSIDE, and

> burn it, or bury it in the ground, you are liable for arrest, for violating

> federal law regarding putting these poisons, INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Joe,

I agree with the contradictions and ill-logic you point out.

Unfortunately, until the law is changed by Congress the

enforcement authority of the EPA is strictly limited to the

outdoors. They are specifically prohibited from regulating the

indoor environment. It is critical that Congress act, which means

this should be an issue in the upcoming election.

Note, however, that in many areas of guidance, volunteer

programs and support of health issues related to the indoor

environment, the EPA is taking action without waiting and despite

severe restrictions and interference by the current occupant of

the White House. Such as the Energy Star program with the IAQ

module, the many asthma programs, mold guidance documents

(with the guidance that people should be able to reoccupy a

space without complaint), the HealthySEAT for schools and the

Tools for Schools programs, even the pesticide registration laws.

I don't mean to defend the EPA, nor do I think their actions are

anywhere near sufficient. But I do know many, including Barbara

Spark, whose heart is in the right place but are strictly limited by

law from certain actions. In other words, be sure to separate the

message from the messager. Once done, be relentless!

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> In a newspaper article, on the dangers of toxic chemicals in new shower

curtains, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official said:

>

> " The EPA does not regulate indoor air, period, " said Barbara Spark, the

indoor air program coordinator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. " We have

not been given that authority by the Congress. "

>

> If you follow EPA logic, to its ultimate conclusion, you get the following

paradox. The EPA won't lift a finger to prevent your shower curtain from

poisoning you, while you are taking a shower, indoors. But, after reading this

newspaper article, you decide to take your shower curtain OUTSIDE, and burn it,

or bury it in the ground, you are liable for arrest, for violating federal law

regarding putting these poisons, INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

>

> http://tinyurl.com/44ot6h

>

> Now, unless I am more brain-dead than usual, this woman is the " coordinator "

for a program that she says DOES NOT EXIST. The above link, goes to the

article. The below link goes to what constitutes the " program " that the EPA has,

online, to inform and educate the public, about indoor mold. It is a very good

information source. Is the EPA spending all this time and money, to uncover the

truth, without anyone in government willing to ACT on this info to SAVE LIVES?

>

> Joe

>

>

> http://www.epa.gov/mold/index.html

>

>

>