Citizens' Environmental Coalition: Newsletters & Publications

Citizens' Environmental Coalition and Sierra Club recently released "The Wasting of Rural New York State: Factory Farms and Public Health" which reveals the damage that gigantic, poorly-regulated factory "farms" are doing to our health, environment and economy.

For a complete copy of the report, download the .pdf file, or contact CEC's Albany office for a printed copy.

To find out if there is a factory "farm" near you, check out www.ecothreatny.org -- select the "CAFOs" data set and enter your zip code.

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Building Green Without Going in the Red

Everyday building products can be made of toxic materials, and people choose them, unaware of the health and environmental problems they can cause during their manufacture, use and disposal.. The good news is that there are safer, healthier options. We've compiled them for you in a new guide that's hot off the presses.

Citizens' Environmental Coalition is pleased to announce the publication of Building Green Without Going in the Red: A Household Guide to Healthy, Affordable Building Materials. This guide presents the toxic problems of conventional building materials, discusses safer, cost-effective options and provides examples of those alternatives and where to find them in easy-to-read tables.

DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY TODAY!

Just click on this link to get your copy (32 pages, 0.98MB) in Adobe Acrobat format.

You can also get a printed copy by calling our office - 518-462-5527.

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Environmental Racism in New York State

This spring, CEC released a Environmental Racism in New York State, a report that documents the disparate siting of polluting facilities in communities of color. Learn more by going to our sister website, www.ecoTHREATNY.org, and clicking on "Env. Racism in NYS", or download PDF here.

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Other Useful Publications:

Pollution and Deception at Ground Zero Revisited: Why it Could Happen Again

The Sierra Club released an update of "Pollution and Deception at Ground Zero," its 2004 report on the federal administration's failure to protect the public and rescue workers against toxic pollution from the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. The new report urges that the government missteps at Ground Zero may be repeated in future disasters. This comes as the National Response Plan examined in the report is being tested for the first time in the Southeast. "Should Americans feel assured that our federal government will do a better job of protecting health and safety in any future disaster? The answer appears to be no," said Suzanne Mattei, author of the report, Sierra Club's New York City Executive Director, and CEC Board Member. The report dissects how these policies may lead to a repetition of the harmful missteps that occurred at Ground Zero. It urges Congress to hold hearings to investigate these issues. "Residents and workers still await a proper toxic cleanup and medical response to the World Trade Center attack. That weak track record and the troubling new federal policies described in this report do not bode well for the future. Americans should assume that in any future national disaster, human health and safety may not be protected," said Mattei.

To obtain the full report, click here.

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Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns

The Environmental Working Group released a report investigating industrial chemicals, pollutants, and pesticides in umbilical cord blood. Researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood from 10 babies born in August and September of 2004 in U.S. hospitals. Tests revealed a total of 287 chemicals in the group. The umbilical cord blood of these 10 children, collected by Red Cross after the cord was cut, harbored pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage.

To obtain, visit www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2

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Growing Threats: Toxic Flame Retardants & Children's Health

Environment California Research & Policy Center has come out with a report detailing types and uses of toxic flame-retardants and their affect humans, animals, the environment, and especially children. The report also suggests ways in which products can be made fire safe in less toxic ways, and lists replacement flame retardant chemicals and materials.

To obtain, visit www.environmentcalifornia.org

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Cabinet Confidential: Toxic Products In The Home

The National Environmental Trust has issued a report examining the amounts if chemicals shipped in products from facilities using toxic chemicals as raw materials. It focuses on specific chemicals that are known or suspected neurotoxins, carcinogens, or reproductive or developmental toxins. This report also details the links between toxic chemicals and diseases, but mainly focuses on toxins produced by one company, and shipped to another company with the intent of being used in another product, and the dangers associated with this practice.

To obtain, visit www.net.org

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Message in a Bottle: The Impacts of PVC on Plastics Recycling

A report issued by the Grassroots Recycling Network (GRRN) provides evidence that bottles made from polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as "vinyl," or PVC, pose significant harm to community recycling programs.

To obtain, visit: http://www.grrn.org/pvc/

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Brominated Flame Retardants in Dust on Computers: The Case for Safer Chemicals and Better Computer Design

This report, put out by the Computer-Take-Back Campaign (CTBC) and Clean Production Action gives a thorough background on brominated flame-retardants and their use in computers. The report is based on a study conducted by the aforementioned organizations that found brominated flame-retardants at high levels in dust from computers. The findings are interpreted and related to its effects on human health and the food chain. Alternatives to brominated flame-retardants are also provided.

To obtain, visit: www.computertakeback.org

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The Economics of Phasing out PVC

Vinyl products may appear to be cheap, but in many cases are actually more expensive than alternative materials that are safer for people and the environment according to a new report analyzing the full costs of vinyl products released by Tufts University researchers. The report, entitled "The Economics of Phasing Out Vinyl", concludes the economic advantages of vinyl or PVC are overstated, and that substituting vinyl with safer alternatives is cost-effective and practical.

To obtain, visit http://www.myhouseisyourhouse.org/new_green_pdf/economics_pvc_phaseout.pdf

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Reaching for Zero:

The Citizens Plan for Zero Waste in New York City

New York City Zero Waste Campaign and Consumer Policy Institute have put out a report detailing the ways in which New York City could reduce its waste. In 1997, Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, which had previously taken all of the city's waste, announced that it would be closing. Since then, the city has been exporting waste to distant landfills and incinerators. This practice has cost the city a lot of money, and is not an environmentally friendly way of waste disposal. This report argues that a composting program, as well as a more expansive recycling program would save the city money, and greatly reduce the amount of waste it produces daily.

To obtain, visit http://www.consumersunion.org/pdf/ZeroWaste.pdf

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Environmental Impacts of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Building Materials

This report exhaustively reviews the science behind the environmental health problems created through out the life cycle of PVC as used in building materials

To obtain, visit http://www.healthybuilding.net/pvc/Thornton_Enviro_Impacts_of_PVC.pdf

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