Is Stonecrest the newest toxic city? Does anyone care?

Will Stonecrest be the next toxic city? The Mayor of Stonecrest has called the residents of Stonecrest and surrounding communities, "A special kind of stupid" and "asses" for expressing concern and fears because they are under environmental assault. The more recent assault is from Metro Green Recycling. Metro Green Recycling is a construction waste site. Here a list of common toxins found in construction waste:

1.) Lead

Lead is a heavy metal commonly found in roofing materials, paints, plumbing pipes. It is highly poisonous and is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream and simulates calcium enabling it to cross the blood-brain barrier.

2.) Polyvinyl chloride

PVCs contain phthalates and dioxins which interfere with the production and normal activity of human hormones therefore affecting the functions of thyroid, pancreas, adrenal, pituitary and reproductive glands.

They are also classified as carcinogens and can lead to cancer, liver dysfunction, vision failure, birth defects, chronic bronchitis, asthma and genetic mutations.

The production of PVC and its disposal also exposes humans and the environment to toxic substances.

3.) Wood treatments

Various treatments are applied to wood to preserve it and increase its life span. Most of the chemicals used in wood treatment are water soluble.

Creosotes are applied to wood as preservatives to prevent rot and come in a variety of types depending on the material used to produce them such as wood tar creosote, coal tar creosote, oil tar creosote, and water gas tar creosote.

The coal-tar creosote is the most commonly used yet the most toxic since it directly causes cancer.

Arsenics are used in wood treatment to prevent insect attacks. Although trace quantities of the element are essential as a dietary element in different species including humans, larger than required quantities from contaminated ground drinking water can result in poisoning leading to abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea.

Long term effects include heart disease, darker and thickening skin, numbness and cancer.

Exposure to large amounts of Pentachlorophenol, another wood preservative, can lead to harmful effects on kidneys, nervous system, liver, immune system and can also cause cancer.

4.) Halogenated flame retardants

They can cause disruption of hormones especially thyroid, adverse developmental problems in fetus and children, immunotoxicity, cancer and reproductive problems.

5.) Asbestos

This was a popular building material up until the 1960s when it was discovered to be extremely dangerous – causing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.

6.) Cadmium

Cadmium fumes, highly soluble compounds or fine dust can cause pulmonary oedema (accumulation of fluids in the air spaces and tissue in the lungs), pneumonitis (inflammation of lung tissue) and death.

High levels of exposure to cadmium have also been linked to prostate, breast and lung cancer.

7.) Volatile organic compounds

VOCs usually cause irritation to eye and respiratory track, dizziness, memory impairment, damage to the kidney, liver and central nervous system. Some have also been found to cause cancer in animals and humans.

8.) Silica

Silica is a natural occurring substance found in stone, sand, concrete, tiles and bricks. It ranks highly in the list of carcinogenic building materials.

The chemical is absorbed in the body through inhalation after construction or demolition involving cutting, dressing, grinding or blasting stone or concrete release it in the air.

Long term exposure to silica leads to lung infections and lung cancer.

9.) Fiber glass

Like the name suggests, this is a type of fibre made up of glass which is mostly used as a thermal insulator and as a roofing material.

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