Report Is Tough On Dioxin Data

A report released by Communities for a Better Environmentasserts that water quality regulators have drastically underestimatedthe amount of dioxin pollution produced by oil refineries in the BayArea. Senior scientist Greg Karras found that many potential sources gountested or are inadequately monitored. The report is in direct responseto the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board'srelaxation of dioxin emission standards for Tosco's Avon refinery, basedon the conclusion that the refinery is not a significant source ofdioxin pollution. The report estimates that actual dioxin emissionsrange from 1.8 billion picograms and 171 billion picograms daily, whileregulators only estimate 11 million picograms and 137 million picogramsdaily. Experts say that one picogram of exposure a day is said toincrease the risk of cancer over a lifetime. Regulators expressed doubtin the accuracy of the report, stating that refineries do not contributemuch dioxin in the larger scheme of pollution.

Thanks to California 2000 Project