Dow's shareholder meeting

[Guest guest]

http://ens-news.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-11-09.html

WOMEN DEMONSTRATE AGAINST CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION AT DOW MIDLAND, Michigan, May 11, 2001 (ENS) - Women representing groups from across the country demonstrated at the Dow Chemical Company's shareholder meeting on Thursday, demanding that Dow change its products and operations to prevent environmental chemical contamination. The silent demonstration, which included women holding paper mache pregnant bellies, depicted the potential risk pollution in the environment and in the food chain. Developing babies are considered to be most at risk. All Americans carry a body burden of industrial chemicals in their bodies, including dioxin, solvents, plastic additives and pesticides. "We are demanding that the chemical industry get these contaminants out of our bodies," said Rohde, director of the National Stop Dioxin Exposure Campaign. "It is unacceptable that we are exposed to chemicals that threaten our health and the health of our children. We are demanding today that Dow Chemical get their products out of our children and our communities." Dioxin is a carcinogen, and can also disrupt the immune, hormone and reproductive systems even in small amounts. Through food alone, Americans are getting 22 times the maximum dioxin exposure suggested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Campaign charged, based on a study released last month. Among nursing infants, that level is 35 to 65 times the recommended dosage. Recent testing by the Centers for Disease Control also found breakdown products of a common pesticide, chlorpyrifos, in most Americans tested. Dow's Dursban is the most common chlorpyrifos product, accounting for more than 50 percent of the compound used. In speeches given to shareholders and Dow senior management, activists called on Dow to take "bold action" to reduce and eliminate the creation of dioxin. They also called on the company to clean contaminated dioxin hot spots in communities around their manufacturing plants like Midland, Michigan. "Midland residents are exposed to unnecessary and dangerous levels of dioxin in our community. The legacy of the company's activities continues in the next generation of children," said Diane Hebert, Midland resident and director of the group Environmental Health Watch. "It's time for Dow to take responsibility for the contamination, and start by cleaning up their own backyard."