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The Bates Student - October 10, 1997

 
 

Environmental Coaliton tackles dioxin

By EMILY CLARK
Staff Writer
 
The Bates Environmental Coalition is currently working on a campaign for Totally Chlorine Free paper at Bates. The problem is that dioxin, a toxic chemical, is formed whenever chlorine and organic matter are used together in industrial processes. One of the largest producers of dioxin are paper mills that use chlorine bleaches in the paper making process. Dioxin is released into the environment and becomes more concentrated as it travels up the food chain; thus, human exposure to dioxin occurs mainly through our daily consumption of food, particularly fish, dairy products, and meat. Not only are we exposed, but we pass dioxin along to the next generation when nursing an infant, because dioxin tends to collect in the fatty tissue of breasts.

The most severe health effects of dioxin are on: reproduction, child development, and the immune system. Male reproductive disorders include decreased sperm count, reduced testosterone levels, and increased incidents of testicular cancer. Female reproductive disorders include decreased fertility, higher level of spontaneous abortions, and increased incidents of reproductive cancers such as vaginal/cervical cancer and breast cancer. Birth defects include lower intelligence, reduced birth weight, and impairmnet of the immune system.

Dioxin is having a detrimental affect on the many Native-American tribes that depend on fishing for their livelihood, and must consume fish from the polluted waters of the Penobscot, Androscoggin and other rivers. Many tribes are suffering from increased cases of cancer.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to the chlorine bleaching processes being used by many paper mills. Currently there are 55 paper mills that produce totally chlorine free, high-quality bleached pulp. Our goal is for Bates to purchase and utilize Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF) and Secondarily Chlorine-Free (SCF) paper solely. The Environmental Coalition feels that this is a pertinent issue for Bates College, especially because we are located in a state which has many paper mills. Show your support for this action by signing a petition outside of Commons on Thursday night.
 
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Last Modified: 11/5/97
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