Great. Another chemical threat to the Great Lakes when governments already are unable to cope with existing ones. It's reported in today's Chicago Tribune (registration required).
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0407270348jul27,1,4603358.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Here's an excerpt:
"Chemicals used to make Teflon and Scotchgard have been promoted as modern marvels for their ability to keep food from sticking to pots and fast-food packaging, repel stains on carpets and furniture and make water roll off coats and clothing.
Now scientists are finding that the chemicals also have managed to spread throughout the world. Researchers have detected them in polar bears roaming near the Arctic Circle, dolphins swimming in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Italy and gulls flying above ocean cliffs outside Tokyo.
Known as perfluoronated compounds, the chemicals also were recently detected for the first time in the Great Lakes, one-fifth of the Earth's fresh water and the source of drinking water for more than 7 million people in Illinois and 33 million others in the United States and Canada."
When will we quit using the Great Lakes and the global environment as a chemical lab?
Posted by Dave at July 27, 2004 03:43 PM