From: des@helix.nih.gov (David E. Scheim)
Subject: Re: NRDC Criticizes Domenici Plan to Gut Drinking Water Protections
Organization: NIH
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 17:49:03 GMT

In article <0nln#7b@lynx.unm.edu> bhjelle@carina.unm.edu () writes:

>In article <1992Sep3.021319.9173@samba.oit.unc.edu> Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen) writes:
>>
>>Here is a press release from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
>>
>>
>>   WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A Senate proposal to
>>curtail federal regulation of toxic pollutants in the U.S. drinking
>>water supply could result in the exposure of more than 100 million
>>Americans to numerous contaminants including PCBs, nitrates and
>>cancer-causing pesticides, according to the Natural Resources Defense
>>Council, a non-profit national environmental organization.

>>   "This plan constitutes a giant step backward in our effort to
>>provide safe drinking water for all Americans," said Erik Olson, NRDC
>>senior attorney.  "When found in drinking water at levels above


>I'm glad to see Dominici doing something about the regulations.
>It is estimated that Albuquerque (pop 500K) may have to pay
>$250 million to comply. While that is an immense burden on
>Albuquerque (for highly questionable gain), the proportional
>burden pales in comparison to that of small, rural communities.
>If required to implement the existing regulations, many
>small communities would literally go bankrupt.

>Like the irrational fear of radioactivity displayed by several
>sci.med posters recently, fear of trace contamination with
>manmade pesticides provokes irrational, disproportionately
>severe responses. Personally, I would like to see some of
>this energy directed toward more concrete threats, like that
>of self-poisoning with unnecessary "health" nostrums and
>megadose vitamins. The example of L-tryptophan, the cause
>of EMS in thousands, leaps to mind.

>Brian

Certainly, because of one episode of contaminated L-tryptophan, it is 
reasonable to prevent millions of people who by their own choice take 
vitamins above RDAs from doing so.  In view of the cases of cynanide-laced 
tylenol and benzine contaminated Perrier, I think we should ban all pain 
killers and carbonated water also.

On the other hand, even though breast cancer rates are rising alarmingly, 
though we know many of these "trace" pesticides are carcinogenic, and 
though we have no idea of how much of these "trace" contaminants accumulate 
into our drinking water, which we injest with far less knowledge or choice, 
it certainly makes sense to remove any protections against these 
contaminants.

/*********************************************************************/
/*                      --- David E. Scheim ---                      */
/* BITNET: DES@NIHNEI31                                              */
/* INTERNET: desl@helix.nih.gov          PHONE: 301 496-2194         */
/* CompuServe: 73750,3305                  FAX: 301 402-1065         */
/*                                                                   */
/* DISCLAIMER: These comments are offered to share knowledge based   */
/*   upon my personal views.  They do not represent the positions    */
/*   of my employer.                                                 */
/*********************************************************************/
Newsgroups: sci.engr.chem