Submit your Creosote claim details for a free, no obligation case review
Get Started:
Every year, 825 million pounds of creosote are used as a wood preservative to protect from weather breakdown and wood dwelling pests. Coal-tar creosote is the most widely used wood preservative in the United States. Creosote poisoning can occur when the chemical mixture enters the body through the lungs when in the air, through the stomach and intestines after consuming food or drinking water contaminated by creosote, or if absorbed through the lungs, stomach, and the intestines as many of the creosote mixture components can be.
In 1978, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated efforts to phase out creosote and two other wood preservatives after recognizing the creosote poisoning dangers. The EPA felt an absence of adequate substitutes for creosote did not allow for the ability to eliminate creosote and reversed its original 1978 phase out calling in 1984. Since 1993 at least, the EPA was presented with alternative products to creosote. Not only were the alternatives considered to be less toxic, but economical and easy for industry to replace the creosote with. Still, the EPA has failed to respond to the coalition of groups in supports of a creosote ban.
By December 2002, Beyond Pesticides and 15 other national and statewide public interest groups sued the EPA after years of failing to respond to creosote poisoning risks despite the presence of what the groups believed to be significant and substantial amounts of evidence displaying the dangers of creosote. The lawsuit against the EPA request the agency suspend and cancel the registration of creosote based on the grounds that creosote presented unreasonable adverse risks to public health and the environment in light of the less toxic and economical alternatives that exist.
The EPA''s hazard profile of creosote was that despite the carcinogenic creosote poisoning risks, as well as other adverse health effects, the weight of evidence compiled is sufficient enough to deny action to reregistration. Since the agency states in the preliminary assessment database for creosote of the dangers that exist, the EPA felt that was adequate enough.
Being exposed to creosote can cause creosote poisoning and long term, direct exposure has resulted in cases of cancer. When creosote is not properly handled or disposed, the creosote can leak into the soil and groundwater. The European Union banned creosote in 2003 because of creosote poisoning and adverse effects. The EPA, while admitting the prolonged exposure to creosote could cause cancer, has engaged in nearly a year of closed door meeting with the wood preservative industry and has continued to claim a more in-depth review of current literature is needed because of a lack of data showing creosote poisoning risks.
New York is currently trying to ban creosote, which creosote supporters have been very much opposed to, claiming there is no basis for it and fearing it can inspire other states to follow suit. The latest version of the legislation would still allow utilities and railroads to continue to use creosote coated wood and a continued allowance for creosote to be burned at previously licensed incinerators. Despite the restrictions the bill presents, the move is still a step in the right direction in what many people believe is far overdue.
During the winter months, many people will start trying to heat up their homes. Wood burning stoves has become a more popular way of providing heat, but there are ways of preventing creosote buildup by burning a hot fire for 15 to 30 minutes. In addit...
Copyright © 2001 - 2010 Online Lawyer Source | Legal Marketing Site Designed by eJustice