Benzene Leukemia Law Blog : Benzene and Leukemia Lawyer & Attorney : Burke & Eisner Law Firm : Benzene Exposure, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

In the largest settlement in the 14 year history of the EPA's audit policy, chemical and textile giant Invista will spend $500 million to bring 12 plants into compliance with environmental laws. The EPA's audit policy includes incentives to companies that voluntarily disclose and correct environmental violations.

All of the plants in question were recently purchased by Invista from Dupont.  Soon after purchasing the plants Invista disclosed 680 violations at 12 plants in 7 states. In March 2008 Invista filed an $800 million lawsuit against Dupont citing the companies failure to allow a thorough review of the plants before sale. The suit is pending.

According to the EPA the spending will result in:

• $325 million in estimated annual human health benefits.
• 30 fewer premature deaths.
• 9,000 fewer cases of upper and lower respiratory symptoms.

The above results will be achieved through installation of  pollution control equipment to treat air pollutants and remove benzene from waste water.

The settlement includes a 1.7 million civil penalty.

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Opponents of the proposed 12 lane Interstate 5 bridge linking Portland OR. and Vancouver WA., recently rallied in downtown Portland, citing health concerns regarding the project.

The massive bridge is the Columbia River Crossing project's response to a fast growing Northwest population.

Activists present at the rally found fault with 2008 Federal Highway and Transit Administration draft environmental impact statement which found that while increasing traffic drastically, the massive project would somehow lead to pollution reduction of 30 to 90 percent.

A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report paints a starkly contrasting picture, and expresses concern over how the above figures were drafted. According to EPA documents, the $4.2 billion project would likely lead to increased toxic chemical emissions in an area of Portland already notorious for pollution.

The north and northeast sections of Portland are associated with higher air pollution levels due to freeway proximity and industrial emissions. Recent studies have demonstrated that those living near or on a freeway face increased risk of  benzene exposure. Exposure to the chemical has been linked to serious conditions like aplastic anemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Benzene is just one of many dangerous chemicals found in vehicle emissions.

Sylvia Evans, an environmental justice advocate from north Portland, expressed concern about the project.
 

"It will render that neighborhood uninhabitable, I don't think my health or my neighbors' is worth sacrificing for someone else's privilege to live, work, and play in two different states."

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