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Dioxin is an organic solid of
white crystalline needles. Dioxin is one of the most toxic chemicals known.
Burning chlorine- based chemical compounds with hydrocarbon forms dioxin. About
95% of the major source of dioxin in the environment comes from incinerators
burning Chlorinated wastes. The Dioxin affects fish such as the Atlantic
salmon, bass, suckers, sunfish, and others. Historical records indicate that the population of salmon in the Penobscot River was 50,000 or more (adults). U.S. Fish and Wildlife report (1999) on the Main Atlantic Salmon Endangered, indicate that the current population is dwindling to about 1,000 to about 4,000 adults. Dioxin is affecting many species in the area especially birds of prey. These birds include bald eagles, osprey and hawks of which some are listed as endangered Exposure to Dioxin It is been
noticed on the reservation below the Lincoln Pulp and Paper Company that the
river is not freezing during the winter months as it used to be in the past.
Biologists say the open water, caused by warm wastewater discharged from the
Lincoln Pulp and Paper Company is endangering the species that depend on the
river. Since the river doesnt freeze during the winter months, the bald eagle
continues to fish in the area. The exposure of the eagles to fish increases
their health risk. Traces of Dioxin in the
wastewater will kill or prevent the hatching of up to six eaglets in the next
five years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services. The threatened
eagles on the upper Penobscot have become a flashpoint in the national debate
over the environment. Chlorine bleach is traditionally used at about 100 paper
mills nationwide. The bio-products of the use of chlorine in these paper mills
create dioxin contaminating fish in more than 250 miles of Maine river ways alone. The state of Maine has warned
the tribe members and others to limit consumption of fish from the Penobscot
River since 1987. The possible source of pollution comes from the paper mills,
Penobscot Indian Nation, which is thirty miles down stream of the Lincoln Pulp
and Paper Mill, is responsible for testing the water quality and the fish/
other species around the paper mill.
Signs warning against eating the fish mark the borders on Indian Island. Tribal members live on the Penobscot River
and have consumed large amounts of fish from the river. Now, tribal members have curtailed (stopped)
traditional fishing activity. Health
Risks Dioxin is a major health problem that the Penobscot Nation
is currently facing. The health problems associated with dioxin can be
classified in two major categories the short term and the long-term health
risks. Short-term health risks include liver damage, weight loss, wasting of
glands (important to the bodys immune system). Long-term health risk include
breast cancer, cancer of the lungs, liver, stomach, lymphoma, and widespread
reproductive problems in term of fertility, shrinking of the testicles and
long-term birth defects. Sperm count in men
worldwide has dropped to 50% of what it was 50 years ago. The incidence of
testicular cancer has tripled in the last 50 years, and prostate cancer has
doubled. Endometriosis (the painful growth outside the uterus of cells that
normally line the uterus, - which was formerly a rare condition, now afflicts
five million American women. In 1960, a womans chance of developing breast
cancer during her lifetime was one in a twenty. Today the chances are one in
eight. In one cancer study, it compared
the Penobscot nation to other native groups; one in New Mexico, and another in
Alaska. It was concluded from the study that our cancer rate was higher than
the two groups in New Mexico and Alaska. Exposure to Dioxin U. S. EPA recommend the exposure of
dioxin levels in foods such as ground beef (1.5 ppt), soft blue cheese (0.7
ppt), Pork chops (0.3 ppt) etc. A full list of dioxin recommended levels could
be found on EPA web site (http:// www.EPA.gov).
Penobscot water resources reported that
Americans accumulate harmful levels
of dioxins in their bodies mostly through the ingestion of food. Removal
of Dioxin The Penobscot Nation believes
that the only way to get rid of dioxin is to eliminate chlorine from the Kraft
bleaching process. The EPA recommends
that Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is 0.00003 ppb (parts per billion). When
the levels exceed MCL the EPA must notify the public through the media. EPA strongly encourages people to learn more
about their drinking water, and how to upgrade the supply of safe drinking
water. How are my
people responding to the health crisis?
My people are very worried and concerned about the
discharge of dioxin in the reservation waters for a very long time. Any
response has been limited during the past decades due to the limit of knowledge
about dioxin and the cost associated with a better management of the
waters. We see the cancer rates on the
reservation are increasing all the time. The fish advisories posted along the
banks of the rivers is a sign of concern that further steps need to be
taken. Health and culture impacts of
this dangerous carcinogen is affecting the whole community that leaves not only
on the reservation but in the neighboring areas too. Fish is a major source of food for our people and forbidding
eating this fish is an economical and health disaster. The problem of dioxin and its consequences
is affecting many families due to the deaths, cancer, birth defects and many
other trickling problems. Tougher rules and
regulations that further limit both water and air discharges of Dioxin is
required. Chlorine Dioxin can be used to reduce the amounts of Dioxin, but it
cant eliminate it. Chlorine dioxin is very corrosive, it is a very dangerous
compound, and it cannot be transported legally on our highways and it has to be
made on site. Lincoln and Pulp and Paper
Company are in violation of Maines water quality standards. EPA has been
trying to work out a way to reduce the levels of Dioxin and other chlorinated
organic compounds. Industries that are possibly discharging dioxin in the river
are being encouraged to participate in solving this issue. Population and Membership The Penobscot Nation is a
federally recognized tribe. The population of the tribe is increasing. The
following is a population list: Total number of Penobscot Residence
..384 Total number of Non-Indian Residents
.93 Total number of Other Indian Residence
45 Estimated Population
522 MEMBERSHIP ANALYSIS 1. Total
2146 In
State
.1214 Out-of-State
.
.
932 In-Area-including on
Reservation
..590 2.
Full Blood
175 Ύ
Blood
.157 ½ Blood
.647 Ό Blood
1167 3. Female
..1071 Male
1075 Conclusion Tribal members use the Penobscot
River and its islands for fishing, hunting, trapping spiritual and cultural
activities, recreation gathering fiddlehead ferns, and other gathering activities. Therefore, any potential threats to the water resources of the
Penobscot River are of utmost concern to the tribe. Managing and monitoring of
dioxin in our area is necessary and further education to the Penobscots on the
subject will help reduce the health risks that is involved with the ingestion
of dioxin. Further- more I hope to help change the way people and companies
treat the Penobscot River. I grew up hearing stories about my elders swimming
and fishing in the Penobscot River. I hope that some day my children,
grandchildren and others will be able to use the river once again. |