GRAVE DANGER FOR EXPECTANT MOMS NEAR AIRPORTS -- -
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jack Saporito, +1 847-506-0670 Cell: +1 847-922-2692
Source: Mothers Against Airport Pollution
GRAVE DANGER FOR EXPECTANT MOMS NEAR AIRPORTS

Arlington Heights, IL-The Mothers Against Airport Pollution are issuing a dire warning to expectant and new mothers…

It has now been confirmed with certainty that pregnant women who live near high industrial sources of pollution should protect themselves from breathing the contaminated toxic air in order to protect their unborn children. Evidence was also found that children born outside of and moved into the hotspot zones in infancy also had elevated rates of cancers.

This is of particular concern regarding airports, since areas around airports in the United States are located generally within heavily populated areas.

Airport and aircraft related operations are among the worst producers of the specific toxic chemicals listed. And unlike ground-based sources, aircraft contaminate our breathing air from overhead, exposing people living many miles away from an airport to these deadly poisons and particulate matter.

Researchers have now linked the breathing of cancer-causing compounds during pregnancy to a direct increase in the risk of childhood cancer. In fact, they believe nearly all child cancers and leukemia can be traced back to a mother's inhalation of toxic substances during pregnancy.

The peer reviewed study demonstrates that there are significant birth proximity relative risks when expectant mothers are exposed to "hotspots" of carbon monoxide, PM10 particles, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), nitrogen oxides, benzene, dioxins, 1,3-butadiene, and benz(a)pyrene.

The study confirmed that the places of children with cancer are often sites of industrial combustion, VOCs, and associated engine exhausts.

According to the study, "Newly identified specific hazards include the known carcinogens 1,3-butadiene, dioxins, and benz(a)pyrene. The mother probably inhales these or related materials and passes them to the fetus across the placenta," other sources cannot be excluded: breast milk or preconception contamination or pollution effects in early infancy.

Smaller airports are not exempt, since aviation gas still contains the additive lead. In addition, more than 5,000 general aviation airports plan to start accepting jet operations in the near future. Jets burn more fuel and release more toxins. In another study, according to data from the Los Angeles School District on Santa Monica airport, just about 15 jet operations a day cause a significant increase in cancer risks.

According to USEPA and Illinois EPA figures, Chicago O'Hare airport's aircraft alone, emit more VOCs than those from all Illinois electric power generating plants combined, with Carbon Monoxide emissions as much as 60% of that total!

The peer reviewed study, "Evidence Based Public Health Policy And Practice: Childhood cancers and atmospheric carcinogens", by E. G. Knox was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, (doi:10.1136/jech.2004.0216752005;59;101-105).
For more information on what you can do, contact Mothers Against Airport Pollution at: 630-415-3370.

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Editor's note:

"Controlling Evidence Based Public Health Policy And Practice: Childhood cancers and atmospheric carcinogens."
http://jech.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/59/2/101

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Airport-Related Air Pollution (study conducted by 8 US states, many new findings including finding that the Federal Aviation Insdustry and United Nations (ICAO) are grossly underreporting ground emissions.)
http://64.2.134.196/workgroup/aircraftport/Aviation_Final_Report.pdf

Toxic emissions from the airports studied are high when compared with emissions from the largest stationary sources in each of the three states. While improvement is needed in the method used to calculate toxic emissions from aircraft, the inventory provides a rough approximation of emissions, indicating that toxic emissions from aircraft greatly exceed those of the largest stationery sources in the three states. (Pp. II-13-14)

Table 1. 1999 Aircraft Emissions at the Airports of Study (Pp. II-11-14)
Tons/Year
Logan Bradley Manchester
Oxides of Nitrogen 2,664.1 676.5 187.5
Hydrocarbons 562.1 102.0 35.4
1,3-butadiene 10.7 1.8 0.6
Benzene 15.7 3.1 1.2
Formaldehyde 82.1 12.9 3.7
Acetaldehyde 25.3 3.9 1.1

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Yet another similar type New York City study confirms Childhood cancers and atmospheric carcinogens findings:

"When their babies were born, researchers found about 50% more genetic abnormalities in infants whose mothers had higher levels of exposure to toxics caused by burning fuels such as gas and coal, researchers said yesterday."

"We already knew that these air pollutants significantly reduce fetal growth, but this is the first time we've seen evidence that they can change the structure of chromosomes in [the womb]," said Dr. Frederica Perera, director of Columbia's Center for Children's Environmental Health."

Source: Urban Air Pollution Linked To Childhood Cancer In NYC Study. NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, 2-16-05. (From the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.)


Contact: Jack Saporito, +1 847-506-0670 Cell: +1 847-922-2692


Denise Heppel, Chairman
Mothers Against Airport Pollution
POB 1702
Arlington Heights, IL 60006-1702
(630) 415-3370  ¶ 2/23/2005