[CPEO-MEF] PRESS RELEASE: Physician Warns Burning Buildings is Health Risk

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CSWAB
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger
E12629 Weigand's Bay South - Merrimac, WI  53561
Phone (608) 643-3124 - Fax (608) 643-0005
Email: info@cswab.com - Website: www.cswab.com

February 3, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Laura Olah, CSWAB (608)643-3124
Dr. Christine Ziebold (Email: c_ziebold@yahoo.com)


Physician Warns Burning Buildings is Health Risk

Proposed open burning of explosive-contaminated buildings will place
human health and the environment at risk, according to a statement
released today by Christine Ziebold, MD, PhD.  Ziebold has a doctorate
in Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases and currently serves on
the Restoration Advisory Board for Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant.
"The proposed open burning of contaminated buildings at Badger Army
Ammunition Plant, which produced nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine-based

propellants in the past, will place human health and the environment at
risk," Ziebold said.  "Therefore, open burning cannot be called
decontamination in the proper sense."
Ziebold is particularly concerned about how the Army's proposal to burn
as many as 100 buildings could affect "sensitive receptors" such as
children and chronically ill individuals.  "Open burning will especially

increase suffering for children, elderly, and all people with
respiratory problems."
"Children have narrower airways than adults.  Thus, irritation or
inflammation caused by air pollution that would produce only a slight
response in an adult can result in a potentially significant obstruction

of the airway in a young child," Ziebold added.  "Air pollution is known

to exacerbate asthma and be a trigger for asthma attacks in infants and
children."
The pollutants of greatest concern created with open burning are
particulate matter and what has been termed "air toxics" (toxic
substances released to the air).  The so called "criteria pollutants"
are nitrogen dioxide, a brown colored gas emitted from combustion
processes.
"It is an ozone precursor, and can cause health problems by itself in
sensitive people.  It can also convert to acid rain or to a fine
particulate, contributing to PM10 levels," she said.  PM10 is made up by

fine particles of dust, soot, ash, smoke, metals, and fumes suspended in

air.  PM10 is so small that it gets by the human body's natural
filtration systems and lodges in the deepest, most sensitive areas of
the lungs.  PM10 often includes toxic components that are absorbed by
the body through the lungs and skin.
Residues of the propellants manufactured at Badger are contaminants of
concern including carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene,
1,1,1-trichloroethane, chloroform, 2,4- and 2,6-dinitrotoluene and
benzene.  "Dinitrotoluene and polyaromatic hydrocarbons are
semi-volatiles, but will become volatilized when burnt," Ziebold said.
Lead vapors and lead particulates are predicted emissions, according to
Plexus Scientific, a contractor working for the Army.  "The
neurodevelopmental, hematological and endocrinological toxicity of lead
is undisputed," Ziebold warned.
 "Forty-one years of open burning waste propellants and waste process
chemicals at Badger's Propellant Burning Ground are enough," Ziebold
concluded.

-END-

NOTE: Dr. Ziebold's complete statement is attached.



--
Laura Olah, Executive Director
Citizens for Save Water Around Badger
E12629 Weigands Bay S
Merrimac, WI 53561
phone: (608)643-3124
fax: (608)643-0005
email: info@cswab.com
website: http://www.cswab.com <http://www.cswab.com/>

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