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Arsenic

Arsenic kills. Researchers say arsenic can
cause cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
and neurological disorders. The problem is that
arsenic occurs naturally particularly in the
Western United States. The issue is how much
has to be removed from drinking water. The
current standard for arsenic in drinking water was
established in 1942. It is 50 parts per billion. At
that level the National Academy of Sciences,
says people have a 1 in 100 chance of getting
cancer or related disease from arsenic. In the last
days of the Clinton administration, the EPA cut it
to 10 parts per billion. Overturning the decision,
President Bush argues that could be regulatory
overkill.

ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge) is 20 million acres of
unspoiled wilderness and refuge in the
frozen arctic tundra of Alaska

with oil reserves as contested as those
in the burning sands of the Middle East.
Simply put the Bush administration
wants to drill for oil and the
environmentalists say, "No".The new
wrinkle in the issue is winter in the
arctic was late, which meant delays in
oil operations already underway in
Alaska. Oil crews need icy-frozen
tundra so that they can move heavy
equipment for drilling wells and
building pipelines. With glaciers rapidly
melting, there is no guarantee in the
future the frozen tundra will not turn into
slush. Global warming will deteriorate
the eco- system stability of a habitat for
36 species of fish, 36 species of land
mammals, 9 species of marine
mammals, and 160 different kinds of
birds. Even though the leadership in
the Senate has changed, the fight
continues.

Arsenic is used in wooden play
ground equipment. Arsenic is
used to pressure treat wood that
is used in play ground equipment.
It helps the wood last longer, but
could be a hazard to your children.