American Public Health Association Applauds EPA Proposal to Set Limits On Wastewater Toxins

May 22, 2013- The American Public Health Association announced its support of new standards proposed in April by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would help protect America’s waterways and public health from toxic pollutants.

“Keeping our water safe and clean is critical to ensuring the health of our people and communities,” said Georges Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association.

The proposal sets the first-ever federal limits on toxic pollutants in wastewater discharged from coal-fired power plants. The contaminants, which include mercury, lead, arsenic and selenium, can cause serious health effects, including lowered I.Q., cardiovascular disease and cancer, and damage to the nervous system, kidneys and liver.

When discharged from power plants, the pollutants contaminate surrounding waterways. Human health is adversely affected when those pollutants are consumed through contaminated drinking water and fish, and when people are exposed in recreational waterways.

“Toxic heavy metals have no place in our drinking water or on our dinner plate,” said Benjamin. “We urge the EPA to adopt these standards and strengthen the human health protections provided under the Clean Water Act.”

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