Illinois' increase was nearly 1 million lbs. of recognized carcinogens, and the decrease nationwide was 13 million lbs. This impressive drop reflects implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which aims to eliminate the production of some of these chemicals and limit the production of others. All of the latest pollution release data are analyzed on the award-winning EDF Chemical Scorecard web site. An instant success with the public when it was launched last April, the EDF Chemical Scorecard fielded over 1 million hits in its first two days of operation and continues to provide free, clear, localized facts on chemical pollution to several times as many users as the Federal government's official web site.
People can now react directly to companies and to each other.
They can link up on-line with any other Scorecard user who's concerned about the same kind of pollution issues. Among other new features, Scorecard lets polluting facilities post their own comments for public view, and invites facilities that have made safety claims to publicize the facts necessary to back those claims up. This update of Scorecard incorporates recently released official data on pollution releases for the most current available year, 1996. Scorecard combines chemical release data with health effects information from over 150 other databases to spotlight the environmental performance of companies and to help members of the public understand the significance of reported releases of toxic chemicals into their environment. The Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national, NY-based nonprofit organization, represents 300,000 members.