-Caveat Lector-
(DOW lets you do great things... --SW)
Greenpeace Shuts Wrong Pipe in Dow Chemical Action
SAO PAULO, Brasil, January 15, 1999 (ENS) - A Dow Chemicals plant in
Guaruja, Sao Paulo was targeted by Greenpeace activists from Brazil,
Argentina, Spain, the United States, Germany and Ghana, Thursday. The
activists cemented a discharge pipe shut. They are now sitting in a boat in
front of the Dow plant bearing signs against toxics.
The activists claim that the pipe, located in a mangrove area behind Dow's
latex plant, was discharging toxic chemicals into the river Rio da Pouca
Saude, which means "poor health" river, part of the Santos estuary system.
But Claudio Fiorante, environment security and product stewardship,
manager for Dow Latin America, told ENS in an interview that the company
pipe that discharges treated wastewater is over a mile away. The pipe shut
by Greenpeace is a rainwater discharge pipe, Fiorante said.
"We have regular visits from the Environmental Agency, they take regular
samples, and we meet all environmental regulations in Brazil," Fiorante
said.
"We are using the best technology available, the Dow manager stressed.
"We have a liquid waste treatment plant that discharges to a creek, then to
the channel and then to the Atlantic Ocean."
Dow Chemical's pipe blocked by Greenpeace activist (Photo (c)
Greenpeace/Hornos)
The ship MV GREENPEACE collected eight drums of what the activists
say is contaminated river water and delivered them to the company's dock
in a symbolic gesture to return the contamination to the company.
According to sample data collected by Greenpeace a number of highly
toxic pollutants including organochlorines and phenols were detected in the
effluent and sediment samples.
"Dow's hidden toxic discharges are scandalous and unacceptable. We
demand an immediate stop to the release of contaminants into the water
and a full commitment towards zero toxic discharges and clean
production," said Marcelo Furtado from Greenpeace.
There was no attempt on the part of Greenpeace to meet with Dow
personnel, who would have been open to a meeting, Fiorante said. We did
not like how they did," he told ENS. "They invaded our facility. If they came
to us and tried to talk, we would have been open to talk with them."
The Dow plant in Guaruja manufactures epoxy resins, latex and polyglicols
and has been fined by the Sao Paulo State environmental protection
agency for improper disposal of sludge contaminated with
tetrachloromethane.
Greenpeace says its samples indicate industrial contamination of waste
water and river sediment by a wide range of organic compounds. Of
particular concern are the volatile compounds tetrachloromethane, known
as carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform, widely used as solvents. The
phenol BHT which is used as an antioxidant in rubber and plastic was also
found. All substances are known or suspected carcinogens.
But Fiorante said Dow is not even planning to remove the cement from the
pipe blocked by Greenpeace because the pipe is not really needed. "We
have several other points for rainwater discharge," he said.
The action is part of Global Tour for a Toxics Free Future, an international
campaign Greenpeace started last December in Argentina against
industrial pollution and chemical contamination. During the tour
Greenpeace is releasing information and mobilizing public support for a
global commitment to phase out toxic substances. The expedition is
currently in Brazil and will later on move to the Mediterranean, Europe and
Asia.
The Dow Chemical Company is the fifth largest chemical company in the
world, with annual sales of more than $20 billion. Dow provides chemicals,
plastics, energy, agricultural products, consumer goods and environmental
services. The company operates 114 manufacturing sites in 33 countries.
© Environment News Service (ENS) 1998. All Rights
Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Wingate
California Director
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