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Alaska Collaborative on Health and Environment Statewide
Teleconference Seminar Series
Health care professionals, researchers, tribal
representatives, health and environmental advocates,
students, health-affected persons and anyone interested
is cordially invited to participate in a teleconference
seminar on:
Worker Health and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill:
What Have We Learned about the Effects of Oil on Human
Health?
TIME: Tuesday, March 25 at 9 AM Alaska Time.
The call will last one hour
CALL-IN INFORMATION:
To join this free call and receive the dial-up
instructions, please RSVP to Alaska Community Action on
Toxics atinfo@akaction.net or
(907) 222-7714.
As a result of research conducted following the Exxon
Valdez oil spill, scientists have demonstrated that oil
is much more toxic than previously understood when the
major environmental and occupational health laws were
passed over 30 years ago.
Unfortunately, our laws and
regulations have not been updated to reflect
technological advances or current scientific knowledge,
putting hazardous waste clean-up workers and the general
public at risk.
In the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill,
thousands of clean-up workers became sick after exposure
to industrial solvents and crude oil that was
aerosolized by the government-approved pressurized hot
water wash. Chemical-induced illnesses included upper
respiratory damage and central nervous system damage.
Long-term chronic health effects still cause suffering
among many oil spill workers. Currently, Gulf War
veterans, 9/11 clean-up workers, and Katrina responders
– all exposed to numerous petrochemicals –
suffer similar symptoms.
Hazardous waste cleanup responders are at risk of
work-related illnesses because out-dated NIOSH (National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and OSHA
(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
standards do not protect workers from exposures
associated with chemical-induced illnesses. Exemptions
in the regulations also preclude reporting and long-term
monitoring of these illnesses. Further, the general
public is subjected to dangerous levels of fuel-related
chemicals (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs)
that were previously considered safe. Sources of the
latter are combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles,
generators, and power plants.
How can we protect worker and community health? The
Exxon Valdez oil spill left a legacy of economic and
environmental destruction, but the science that emerged
from this disaster gives us an opportunity to repair and
improve our aging and broken system, and to protect
future disaster responders and the public.
Speakers include:
Dr. Riki Ott is the author of the 2005 book, Sound Truth
and Corporate Myth: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez Oil
Spill. With her background as a marine toxicologist, she
will discuss the problems with outdated OSHA standards,
workers health care policies, and public health
standards for development-related disasters. Dr. Ott has
dedicated her academic training to helping citizens use
the knowledge of toxic effects on health and ecosystems
to redefine business practices and government
accountability to improve environmental protection,
social justice and economic stability.
Amanda Hawes is a partner in the law firm of Alexander,
Hawes & Audet with a legal specialty in cancer and
birth defects claims for chemically-exposed workers and
their children. A 1968 Harvard Law School graduate, Ms.
Hawes is a co-founder of Santa Clara Center for
Occupational Safety and Health, serving as Executive
Director from 1992-1996 and is currently a board member.
Pamela K. Miller
Executive Director
Alaska Community Action on Toxics
505 West Northern Lights Boulevard, Suite 205
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Phone (907) 222-7714; Fax (907) 222-7715
www.akaction.org
We believe everyone has a right to
clean air, clean water, and toxic-free food.
Please support our work through membership ($30) or
volunteer work. Thank you! |
