RIGHT TO KNOW—With EPA’s rollback of Toxic Release Inventory regulations, the chemical industry can continue to poison Colorado’s air and water without our knowledge.

Report Cites Toxic Threats

CoPIRG recently released a report, “Toxic Pollution and Health,” which uses information from the federal Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) to analyze toxic pollution linked to health problems such as cancer, birth defects and neurological damage. Because of a recent EPA action restricting the public’s right to know, the report may provide one of the last complete pictures of toxic pollution in Colorado.

“To address the potential health threats from toxic pollution in Colorado, we need full information about what toxics are being released, where, and in what amounts,” said Kirpal Singh, Staff Attorney for CoPIRG. “Unfortunately, the EPA’s attack on the public’s right to know means that Colorado communities will be left in the dark about toxic pollution.”

In 2004, Colorado ranked 13th in the nation for total land releases of carcinogens and developmental and reproductive toxicants. The most commonly released toxins were lead, ammonia and cyanide compounds.

In the coming year, CoPIRG will be working to pass legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to restore the public’s right to know about toxic pollution in their communities, and encourage the chemical industry to protect our health and safety by switching from toxic chemicals to safer alternatives.