Driving Dangerously The truth about DOW Driving Dangerously – The truth about Dow

The Dow Global Public Report instructs us to: Let us know what you think

Here, people with an interest in Dow or affected by the company take Dow up on the offer and ask Dow to live up to its goals on human rights, sustainability and environmental protection.

People from communities affected by Dow’s operations tell the company how and why they have suffered and ask Dow to address the problems it has caused.

Dow’s neighbors and stakeholders explain how – in Herbert Dow’s phrase – it can “do it better”. Is Dow listening? Contents Letter from the stakeholders 2 Agent Orange – Vietnam trauma 4 Midland’s dubious endowment 8 DBCP: A tragedy forewarned 12 Intoxicating Louisiana 15 Two world-class betrayals in Bhopal 18 The Dow in all of us 22 Our Dursban burden 24 Cruel profile 26 Greenwash 28 Conclusion 30 To do list 30 Want to know more 31

On behalf of the Dow Accountability Campaign

This report is a testimony to the struggles for justice waged by the people of Vietnam, India, Latin America, the US and around the world who have been poisoned by Dow’s products, toxic wastes and emissions.

Cover photo: © Richard Allen [email protected] The other Dow Report 1 Dear Reader

This report examines the performance of one of the world’s largest companies.

In 2003 Dow had annual sales of nearly $33 billion, © Raghu Rai/Greenpeace employed approximately 46,000 people, and served customers in 183 countries through 180 manufacturing sites, supplying 3,500 products. Dow also invested in good image projection. Its website is full of statements hailing the company as a model of social and environmental responsibility. This report examines the reality behind the rhetoric. Even though the case studies in this report only provide a snapshot of Dow’s behaviour around the world, they go some way to illustrate the truth about Dow:

• Nearly 30 years after the Vietnam War people are continuing to suffer dioxin poisoning from the Agent Orange defoliant Dow supplied the US military. Health impacts are passing from generation to generation,

• in Michigan, over 22 miles of dioxin contamination stretch from Dow’s plant in Midland, along the Tittabawassee River to Saginaw and beyond. Children may not play in their own gardens. Many fish must not be eaten. There are clusters of thyroid problems, cancers and diabetes in the area,

• in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Philippines, thousands of banana farmers have been poisoned by DBCP, a pesticide Dow produced. Dow and other US companies continued to ship this pesticide around the world long after they were aware of the appalling health problems it causes,

• up to 300 people from the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park in Louisiana were drinking, cooking, washing and swimming in polluted well water for up to five years. Just two miles up the road Dow produces vinyl chloride at a plant that has been experiencing toxic waste disposal problems for decades,

2 The Truth About Dow • when Dow acquired Union Carbide in 2001 it inherited the liabilities for the world’s biggest industrial disaster to date. The consequences of the 1984 disaster at the Union Carbide pesticide plant are still taking their physical and emotional toll. Dow has not taken responsibility for the harm caused, adequately compensated the victims, cleaned up the contaminated site or faced justice in India, and

• Dow’s chemicals are accumulating in the bodies of ordinary people in the US and worldwide. Scientists have found pesticides and industrial chemicals in nearly every American tested. Before people are even born, Dow’s synthetic chemicals begin building up in their bodies. Studies have shown levels of chlorpyrifos (Dursban) in children twice as high as in adults. The full health impacts are yet to be discovered, but early evidence suggests all of these exposures are compromising our health.

What matters to people in India, Nicaragua, Vietnam, the US and across the world is not what Dow says in glossy brochures. People suffering from reproductive disorders, skin lesions, cancer or developmental problems because of Dow or its subsidiaries want the company to address the problems it has caused, and reform its product line so that it doesn’t continue to create more poisonous legacies.

Specifically Dow must accept its legal and moral obligations to those it has poisoned. Where communities are legitimately seeking medical monitoring, cleanup, and compensation for poisoning, the company must resolve these claims. Where the company has contaminated neighborhoods, workers, and communities and left a legacy of ongoing harm, the company must seek to provide redress. Finally, addressing historical wrongs is not enough if the company continues to poison others. The company must reform its product line so that it no longer poisons people and the planet.

Rashida Bee The Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh

Betty Damore Tittabawassee River Watch

Dr Phan Thi Phi Phi The Vietnam Association for Agent Orange Victims

The Truth About Dow 3 Agent Orange – Vietnam trauma

“In Vietnam, the poorest, the most miserable and the most discriminated ones are the Agent Orange victims.” Dr Phan Thi Phi Phi, The Vietnam Association for Agent Orange Victims, 2004

The tragedy of the Vietnam war is third of nearly 13 million gallons of the makers including Dow because well documented and ranks among Agent Orange which was dropped the US Government wouldn’t take the most terrible holocausts of the by the planeload over thousands of responsibility for their suffering. twentieth century. Less known is acres in Vietnam.3 Lush forests Meanwhile Dow claimed that as that twenty-nine years after the wilted under the onslaught. By the Government suppliers they were war’s formal conclusion in 1975, the mid 1960s there were reports of indemnified from prosecution and suffering caused by chemicals used increased miscarriages, stillbirths that in any case they were ordered in Vietnam is still passing from and birth defects among to continue production for the war generation to generation.1 These Vietnamese people and animals. after the government knew about victims are largely unknown and the contamination. Nevertheless, in unheard in the US. Nor have they The collateral damage an out-of-court settlement, Dow and received any assistance or As we now know, this was just the the other six major producers of compensation from the US beginning. Spraying was abruptly Agent Orange agreed to pay $180 government or the manufacturers of halted in 1971 after it was confirmed million to a veteran fund. Fifty-two the chemicals including Dow.2 that Agent Orange was highly thousand veterans received money contaminated with a very toxic form from the fund before it ran out of Although the final death toll from the of dioxin and caused cancer in rats. cash in 1994. To this day war will never be known it may be Toxic dioxins remain in Vietnam’s researchers are continuing to find as many as four million, with millions soil 28 years after the fighting and links between Agent Orange and more injured and traumatized. The have been shown to cause various various illnesses in US Vietnam number of victims of Dow’s cancers, birth defects and organ veterans. But the issue isn’t going chemicals which were liberally dysfunction.4 The full list of diseases away. The US Supreme Court sprayed over ten per cent of South associated with Agent Orange also recently ruled in favour of a new Vietnam during the war is also includes Type II diabetes, spina group of veterans who say their incalculable. What is certain is that bifida, hodgkins disease, acute and Agent Orange exposure related between 1962 and 1971 US planes sub-acute neuropathy, a large illnesses occurred after the 1984 sprayed an estimated 21 million number of soft tissue sarcomas and settlement funds were closed to gallons of chemicals over Vietnam in multiple myeloma. Many of these new applicants in 1994, and thus order to defoliate forests where they diseases occur long after the initial reopened the possibility of another believed communist troops might be 6 exposure.5 payout to veterans. hiding. This news comes as no surprise to Apocalypse without end? The most extensively used of these many American veterans or to the defoliation herbicides was known as Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the impacts Vietnamese veterans and their Agent Orange because of orange of Agent Orange and dioxin are families who have long blamed stripes on the drums it was shipped overwhelming. The number of Agent Orange for a plethora of in. Most was produced by Dow people suffering from exposure to illnesses. US veterans finally sued which supplied approximately one chemical defoliants used during the

4 The Truth About Dow war is somewhere between five daughters of people who had been veterans tried again and again. As a hundred thousand and one million. exposed. Now there is a third result, according to Madame Binh, Up to five hundred thousand have generation of victims. Adults are there are a number of Vietnamese died as a result and another five suffering from skin lesions and families that now have four or five hundred thousand Vietnamese goitres and children are born with disabled children.11 The Vietnamese children are suffering from various birth defects including large Government has urged the US deformities related to the spraying heads, enlarged, bubble eyes and Government to clean up the areas of Agent Orange as its effects pass altered limbs.10 Others suffer from affected by Agent Orange on from generation to generation.7, 8 severe depression and mental numerous occasions.12 Recently, disorders. under an agreement with Vietnam, In 2002 dioxin contamination was the US Government has pledged to found in food samples approaching According to the former vice conduct joint scientific research on 9 levels found during the war. president of Vietnam, Madam the defoliant but has consistently Nguyen Binh, returning veterans in Some of today’s sufferers were declined to discuss any Vietnam were eager to have children compensation.13 doused in Agent Orange during the and build families to repopulate their war, others are farmers who lived off devastated country. However many land that was sprayed. The second of the first born children in these generation are the sons and families had birth defects, so the © Tracey Easthope

The Truth About Dow 5 Vietnam testimonies

The Vietnam Association for Agent “In 1969, when we were working in Orange Victims is a group our lab, we smelt an unpleasant odor. campaigning for justice. In 2004 they We quickly ran out and saw a big filed the first lawsuit against the airplane flying slowly over leaving a makers of Agent Orange in a New dense foggy cloud. We realized it was ‘York‘ Court, seeking unspecified Agent Orange as just after several damages from Dow, Monsanto and minutes, the leaves on the trees fell other companies that made the down. We had to rescue what we had herbicide. The plaintiffs and their cultivated for survival. families consist of people who have become ill from Agent Orange. “We rushed to our cassava garden and wallowed in the toxic air without Lawsuits have also been brought by thinking of the danger. All of us tried New Zealand and South Koreans Hoang Ha My to save our products and we caught who served in Vietnam. Veterans the toxic agent. We soaked our organizations in South Korea must be served everything in bed, products in the stream nearby, but estimate tens of thousands were including her personal hygiene. the stream was also toxic. We boiled exposed. cassava carefully to eat but the odor “In 1989 I was pregnant again but remained. Agent Orange survivor, Tran thi lost the baby in the second month. Hong Ha is now 45 years old: My fourth and fifth children are “There was no other choice. Daily, we almost normal. had to eat the foods in these areas. “My husband worked and was Weeks after that, trees around died. exposed indirectly to unknown “The illness of Hoang Ha My, brings chemicals of US army from 1972- upset to my whole family. We have My friends Luong, Toan and Hung 1976 in Quang Tri old citadel, Tay faced many psychological and had haematoria. In 1972 due to a Ninh and Khe Sanh. He ate food and economic difficulties. Our life is really recurrent illness I went to the North drank stream water in these regions. not stable. My family wants to for treatment. represent ourselves and other “I was first pregnant in 1986 with a families who have similar “I married in 1972 and had an breech presentation. The foetal heart circumstances.” underweight boy, but luckily he was sound was lost during labour and the normal. In 1979 I had a second child. foetus died several hours before Agent Orange survivor Huynh thi Due to 12 tumors clinging to my delivery. Phuong is now 63: uterus and ovaries, doctors had to perform caesarean and forceps “After graduating from Hanoi Medical “My second daughter Hoang Ha My, procedure to deliver my baby. born in 1987, is now 16 years old. University in 1965 I returned to the The labor and delivery was normal. South and worked in a Vaccine “They had to remove my entire uterus But at eight months of age we Production Center in the Mid-Central and ovaries due to these tumors. realised she had physical and mental area, located along Pui stream and At that time we had no drugs (our growth retardation and the diagnosis Ngheu, Oa,Vin streams. country was isolated – closed) for was cerebral palsy. She stays in bed maintaining the family life of a young all day, cannot sit nor stand. She couple.

6 The Truth About Dow “My younger sister Huynh thi Phuong “I was pregnant five times and had Anh, born in 1943, who lived and three miscarriages. From 1999 I was worked as bank officer in, Quang Nam hospitalized in the Central Hospital of Province from 1968 to 1971 also had a Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hanoi uterine fibroid tumor which was because of severe gynaenological removed in 1990 at Hanoi. complications and cancer.

“None of our relatives had this kind of “I needed six courses of chemo- disease. It was terrible. I condemn therapy. No cancer nor reproductive individuals who bring these disorders were previously documented consequences to me and my among my relatives.” colleagues.”

Agent Orange survivor Pham thi Pham thi Hao after chemotherapy Hao is now 48:

“As young volunteer, I worked as a with dead trees. I used to forest road worker or a cook at Ashaw. vegetables like cassava, as foods and Although I was not directly exposed to spring water. I fear I acquired exposure Agent Orange, I lived in the regions indirectly.

Dioxin There are 75 different forms of dioxin processes that use or burn chlorine highlights how Dow’s efforts to making up a family of chemicals in the presence of organic materials. reduce dioxin emissions at its containing carbon, hydrogen and Three main sources are municipal facilities, while welcome, do not go chlorine. Agent Orange contained waste, hospital incinerators and far enough to address the full extent 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin backyard burn barrels.16 Other of the problems.20 Dow is one of the or TCDD which is considered the sources are chemical processing largest makers of PVC plastic, most toxic form of dioxin.14 Agent facilities that use chlorine to make pesticides and solvents. PVC plastic White was another dioxin- products such as polyvinyl chloride creates dioxin when it is burned.21 contaminated herbicide produced by (PVC) and pesticides.17 Dioxin is an Many of Dow’s dioxin-containing Dow and widely used by the US inevitable by-product of most of manufacturing wastes must be land- during the Vietnam war. Agent White Dow’s organochlorine chemical filled. The tragedy of Agent Orange and Agent Orange both contained manufacture.18 is only the tip of the dioxin 2,4-D dioxin which is also a possible contamination iceberg. Dow is still carcinogen, suspected endocrine Scientific evidence of severe health contributing to dioxin contamination disruptor and potential ground water impacts surrounding exposure to to this day as people living in the contaminant.15 dioxin has serious implications for area surrounding its Michigan many products central to Dow’s corporate headquarters are finding 19 Dioxins aren’t deliberately business. A recent report prepared out. manufactured. They are merely the by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, unintended by-product of industrial Dow Chemical: Risks for investors

The Truth About Dow 7 Midland’s dubious endowment

“As a kid my family would mention the river was polluted. Dow was mentioned. You could see a yellow haze in the sky when you drove through Midland and you had to roll up your windows near Dow’s factories. In February 2001 I heard about the dioxin levels around our properties. I had no doubts it was from Dow Chemical.” Betty Damore, Tittabawasse River resident

In 1899 Herbert H. Dow sunk the suffering from the impact of its Bad news for wildlife. And people. foundations of his historic emissions – which have been risking Dioxins and other bio-accumulative homestead into a naturally beautiful health since the 1900s. In those toxicants are by-products of the area on the border of Midland and days tankfuls of waste were often chlorine industry – the daily Saginaw in the State of Michigan. deliberately released into the business of the Dow Midland plant. He did not foresee he had also laid Tittabawasse River.3 Even so, the Dioxin is considered the most toxic the foundations of the area’s ruin. cumulative effect of over a century’s man-made compound ever tested. It The headquarters of his nearby worth of poisoning has only recently doesn’t break down easily and chemical company has grown into a been exposed. It wasn’t until 1985 bioaccumulates in animal tissue.5 notorious giant since its origins as that the US Environmental The effects of its poisoning make humble brine well. Today 22 miles of Protection Agency (EPA) realized pretty grim reading and include birth dioxin contamination emanate from levels of dioxin in fish taken from the defects, miscarriages, cancer, the plant along the Tittabawassee river were the highest in the whole immune and hormone system River, to Saginaw and probably well of the US.4 damage, developmental disabilities, beyond.1 endometriosis, diabetes, dermatitis

Dow gets affluent, © d.linhardt dioxinSpin.com Tittabawassee gets effluent The Midland headquarters has played a central role in Dow’s quest to supply the world with some of the most notorious 20th century products, various pesticides, mustard gas, saran wrap, styrofoam, agent orange, napalm and other dubious chemicals. To this day Dow’s purported mission goes on, “to constantly improve what is essential to human progress by mastering science and technology.”2

But people living on the Tittabawassee flood plain have little The Tittabawassee river – tests reveal toxic concentrations up to 80 times higher than faith in Dow’s mission. They are acceptable levels 22 miles from the Dow Midland plant

8 The Truth About Dow and a range of other problems.6 be specially prepared and should “The air of Midland is our air; the Studies on animals found dioxin only be eaten once a week.12 Studies Tittabawassee is our river. The vast causes cancer at unexpectedly low of wildlife show high levels of dioxin majority of us don’t come from levels.7 contamination accumulating even some other community and put in further up the food chain. our workday and then go back to The heaviest flooding on record that other community… Midland is compounded the contamination in Strong evidence surely that Dow home… We want to take pride (and 1986. Dow’s waste treatment has continuously dumped chemicals do take pride) in the environmental 13 facilities were overwhelmed and the on its own doorstep. But the quality of Midland and its health contents of their vast holding tanks human concerns of people living in record and its safety achievements.” were flushed into the river. Water 2000 properties along the river are levels reached 15 feet above normal most pressing. Until recently most But all the spin and the PR in the and further contaminated 22 miles property owners along the world won’t make the contamination of river frontage downstream.8 Tittabawassee were unaware of the go away. Dow is poisoning the dangers due to lack of testing and people living in its own backyard. Poisoning its own backyard outpourings of misinformation from Tittabawassee riverside The efforts of environmental groups, Dow’s PR machine. And despite residents and some government overwhelming evidence of residents tell Dow what they officials finally revealed the full contamination, Dow’s spin is not think extent of the problems. In 2000 the abating. Now, three hundred seventy three Michigan Department of Dow spokesperson, Terri M. plaintiffs have launched a class Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Johnson, described the samples action lawsuit seeking redress for oversaw sampling of soil from the showing the highest levels of 5,660 falling property values and a fund to floodplain near the confluence of the parts per trillion total toxic monitor and treat the health Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers. equivalence (TEQ) retrieved 15 implications. Despite the 13,000 The shocking results showed toxic inches below ground as “assuring”.14 pages of documents produced by concentrations up to 80 times the plaintiffs, Dow insisted they higher than the MDEQ criterion as No wonder residents are confused. hadn’t provided sufficient far as 20 miles from the Dow Martha Stimpson expresses the information. Meanwhile nothing is Midland plant and tests on higher frustration of many describing the being done to clean up the ground showed 13 out of 15 results as anything but “assuring” floodplain. samples were above the criterion.9 she is not alone in being, “disgusted Recent MDEQ sampling revealed at Dow’s happy talk and their efforts According to the plaintiffs’ attorney, 77 per cent of flood plain properties to minimise the problem”.15 Jan Helder, “every act that Dow tested are contaminated with levels takes makes it absolutely clear that exceeding the maximum mandated The sophistication of Dow’s PR they want to avoid doing anything by state law.10, 11 developed over the past 100 years about it for as long as possible.” is frighteningly convincing and far The 2003 Michigan Family Fish outstrips its ability to guarantee In 2004 Dow claims its latest clean Consumption Guide gives some safety. up proposals will meet the MDEQ’s idea of the implications. Catfish, satisfaction. Tittabawassee carp and white bass are too full of Way back in 1987, Paul Oreffice, residents aren’t holding their breath. chemicals to eat. Even the least President of Dow Chemical was In such an unhealthy environment contaminated smaller fish, need to saying, perhaps they should.

The Truth About Dow 9 Tittabawassee testimonies

Betty Damore “Why do we have a clustering of “We built our home here and put our individuals with a multiple sclerosis life savings into our home. It is a nice diagnosis and cancer? It is known area, close to work and shopping. that there are much higher We routinely see wild turkey, deer, incidents of thyroid problems in this and other wildlife. Our youngest is in ‘‘ community. high school so we have no intentions of moving at this time. “When the DEQ tested our neighborhood, the results showed “We may want to move in the future levels from three parts per trillion but because we live in the total toxic equivalence (TEQ) by floodplain our property has been Stroebel Rd to 90 parts per trillion declared by the DEQ as a waste “I am 55 and have always lived on TEQ approximately 50 feet from the facility. Being a responsible property Stroebel road. I grew up here. The back of our property line. owner it is our moral responsibility property we live on was owned by to tell potential buyers about this my grandfather. We are about a “Government departments have dioxin contamination. quarter of a mile back from the sent out serial newsletters with river. Our property is connected by recommendations of what “Our kids are aged 17 to 24. There Stroebel drain to the Tittabawassee residents should do to limit their should be a trust fund set up for River. As water levels change due exposure to dioxin. We have not medical monitoring. They are to heavy rains or melting snow, the had a garden for three years young now but what may occur in floodwaters flow into Stroebel drain because this area was flooded in the future for them health wise flooding the back portion of our the 1986 flood. As far as cutting remains to be seen. Our lifestyles property. Sometimes we have grass, my husband always wears a have changed as a result of the 8 foot of water in our back yard. mask. If there is a need to go to the contamination. end of our property line we wear “As a kid my family would mention boots and specific work clothes. “Dow continues to want more the river was polluted. Dow was studies done. This has been an mentioned. You could see a yellow “Less than a quarter of a mile from ongoing problem. Why duplicate haze in the sky when you drove us people have levels of more than studies that have already been through Midland and you had to roll two thousand parts per trillion TEQ done by state agencies. up your windows near Dow’s in their backyard. Their kids are “Dow needs to address this factories. In February 2001 I heard older but they have young problem and clean it up now. For about the dioxin levels around our grandchildren that play in their two years there continues to be a properties. I had no doubts it was backyard. Children are closer to the dispute about how to warn people from Dow Chemical. ground and they are more susceptible. about the contamination on park “It is difficult to know whether signs. Needless to say innocent health problems my family and I “Dow representatives have children, adults, and family pets suffer are a consequence of the mentioned people may not need to continue to be exposed to dioxin. dioxin. However, it is known that use their property entirely and if Dow suggested placing wood chips dioxin may cause cancer, diabetes, they are aware that area is on frequently used areas in local hormonal problems, and a list of contaminated don’t use it. It is our parks but after the most recent other problems. property and we should be able to flood those wood chips would have use it as we see fit. been washed away. Their solution is like putting a small bandage on a 10 The Truth About Dow massive bleeding wound.” Kathy Henry “There seems to be no worms in “We also fully support the the floodplain soils that I have dug environmental groups in their up over the years. Some of the efforts to get Dow to clean up the mice my cats would catch and contamination disaster they bring home had large tumors in created. It is the only right thing to their livers. The two cats that ate a do. lot of mice also died of strange cancers. And of course there were “This is an effort to correct the fish, walleye people would something that is terribly wrong catch during the walleye festival and needs to be fixed. that had tumors on them. “But for now, every day I wake up “My life changed forever the day I “There are actually very few and look out into the yard that I read a Saginaw newspaper article species that seem to thrive in this once loved, felt tremendous joy in that local environmental groups area, considering what should be being here, and only feel sadness. I had discovered state agencies had here. no longer care about the yard, been withholding information about flowers, birds and animals. When I contamination of the Tittabawassee “Over the past two years, I have see the flock of wild turkeys River with a dangerous toxin called attended many meetings and find it pecking on the ground looking for dioxin. I had never heard of it disturbing to hear the stories from food, I want to cry. before, but had a sick feeling in my many, many families that live on the “The State of Michigan tested our stomach. river. There doesn't seem to be one household that does not have yard, and the highest level of 12 “You see, many years prior to this, I multiple illnesses in their families. Is samples they took, was 1130 parts had come to suspect there was this normal? per trillion TEQ.” something very wrong with our property, but had no idea what. I “I feel that in the greater am an avid wildlife and bird community, there is still much watcher, and had noticed there denial as to how bad the situation were basically no rabbits living really is. People don't want to around us even though we have believe there is such a problem, for perfect habitat for them. A stray various reasons, and accept Dow's one would show up once in awhile, misinformation with open arms, but they were never around for hoping the problem will just go long. away. Sad.

“A species of woodpecker known “After a year of trying to find to live in the area, a Flicker, who's answers and solutions from state primary diet is ants, never could agencies, environmental groups, seem to establish a population politicians and even Dow, we felt here, where other types who our only option was to file a law suit primarily ate other insects off of against the polluter. It was obvious trees did well. to us by then that we needed to protect ourselves.

The Truth About Dow 11 DBCP – A tragedy forewarned

“There was absolutely no adequate warning on these barrels to prevent exposure to innocent people living and working on these banana plantations…the DBCP was used and sprayed in wide swathes onto unsuspecting people who lived within and around the banana plantations, some of whom never even saw a DBCP barrel.” Juan Dominguez, US lawyer representing the Nicaraguan Association of Workers and Former Workers with Claims against Nemagon, (ASOTRAEXDAN), 2003

A widely used Dow product, Chemical Company liked it so much of inhaling the equivalent quantity of dibromochloropropane (DBCP), is a they rushed to develop DBCP which DBCP many laborers would be very effective worm killer. It is also a they marketed by the brand names exposed to in three months. These carcinogen, ground water of Fumazone and Nemagon and further tests confirmed that contaminant, reproductive toxin and respectively. Sales were already dramatic testicular atrophy results suspected endocrine disruptor. looking very healthy by 1958 when after prolonged and repeated Today, up to 65,000 banana workers an internal Dow report gave an early exposure to DBCP.4 But Dow and and their families are suffering from indication of the scale of the Shell neglected to report these sterility, testicular atrophy, birth of problems on the horizon.3 findings when they submitted deformed or miscarried babies, skin information for registration and diseases, permanent headaches, A can of worms labeling in the US.5 And as the bone pains, vision loss, severe Skin tests on rats, rabbits, guinea toxicity of their products became depression, and five types of pigs and monkeys revealed that clearer, Dow and Shell merely terminal cancer as a result of DBCP was readily absorbed by the swapped a few internal memos and exposure to DBCP. These people skin or through inhalation. Test issued some feeble advice about have worked or lived on giant animals suffered from liver, lung and protective clothing and avoiding banana plantations in Central kidney damage. Half died as a result fumes.6 America, the Caribbean and the Philippines producing fruit for US ©Nick Shaw/Banana Link multinationals.1 Many children are now inheriting their parent’s ill- health.

The profit-making potential of the pesticide was discovered in 1952 when scientists were experimenting with ethylene dibromide or EDB - marketed as Dowfume. DBCP promised even more spectacular results in the battle to save bananas and other fruit from the ravages of the microscopic, root-eating, nematode worm.2 Dow and the Shell Pesticides are often sprayed in swathes over banana plantations. They can affect people and wildlife living in the area and can leach into soil and ground water 12 The Truth About Dow Despite the evidence, companies An all-star cast of multinationals other banana workers were plaintiffs continued to produce and supply faced lawsuits from plantation in similar legal cases. DBCP. From 1964, the Occidental workers in 11 countries. But Dow, Chemical (Oxy) plant near Lathrop Shell, Oxy and Chiquita settled out Subsequent to this ruling, Dow and formulated Fumazone for Dow. of court in 1997 for just $41 million. the other companies, that had been Workers regularly inhaled vapors As a result the farmworkers only got arguing cases should be heard in and dust. They also splashed DBCP about of $1,500 each after legal the countries where the purported onto their skin and clothes. When fees.10 These miserly settlements go injuries occurred, revised their seven plant workers were tested in some way to explain the companies’ opinions. Dow now wants the cases 13 1977, their sperm counts were so traditional preference for hearings in tried in the US. Neither Dow nor low or non-existent that one doctor foreign countries whose archaic any of the other companies thought they had undergone legal systems have been inadequate participated in the trial and Dow say vasectomies. Reports of widespread for such vast and technical class they will not pay. Dow absolves infertility led to such frenzied news actions.11 itself, saying the law, “offends coverage that Dow, Shell and Oxy virtually every notion Americans finally suspended their US Nicaraguan farmers tell Dow have of fair play and substantial operations - just one month ahead what they think justice”. 7 of a federal suspension. Thousands of DBCP victims in In March 2002, the then US Nicaragua have formed unions to As part of a television documentary Ambassador to Nicaragua, Oliver demand compensation from the in 2001 one worker expressed the Garza, put pressure on the companies that poisoned them. In feelings of betrayal many feel: “After administration of President Enrique 2001 associations of banana telling me that I shouldn't worry Bolaños to have the country's workers, led by the Association of about anything out there because it Supreme Court declare Law 364 Workers and Former Workers with can't hurt me, now to find out that unconstitutional. The resulting Claims against Nemagon, I'm sterile from it, their answer was, uproar in Nicaragua’s media led the (ASOTRAEXDAN) mobilised protests don't worry about that because you National Assembly to affirm it will and influenced public opinion to the can always adopt children.”8 not allow one comma in the law to point where the National Assembly be changed.14 Poisonous export passed new law specifically for people affected by pesticides In another forum, during the Despite the furor and distress DBCP derived from DBCP. Known as law negotiations of the Central American was causing back home, Dow and 364, it provides the legal framework Free Trade Agreement, chemical other companies continued to ship it through which people affected by companies lobbied the United to countries all over the world until DBCP can sue corporations that States Trade Representative to 1985. Initially it had no labels produced and applied the include a clause that would make warning it was extremely toxic and chemical.12 laws such as the Nicaraguan Law no instructions on using it safely. As 364 a violation.15 a result its widespread use has The first judgement under the law caused the permanent sterility of decided in favour of 466 DBCP Meanwhile the thousands of thousands. One study found that affected workers in 2002. The Nicaraguan plantation workers who approximately 20-25 per cent of the Nicaraguan court ordered Dow, marched on Managua and camped male working population in banana Shell, and Dole to pay workers $489 out for months are still waiting for plantations on Costa Rica’s Atlantic million as compensation for their justice. Dow failed to prevent the coast, where workers had mixed suffering. By July 2003 at least 5000 tragedy. A cure is not possible. DBCP by hand, were sterile.9 Compensation is overdue. The Truth About Dow 13 Nicaraguan testimonies

Juan Dominguez, the US lawyer physical deformities that do not she lost consciousness, she was representing the Association of allow her to walk, talk, or grasp. rushed to the hospital, and Workers and Former Workers with Ana's parents must feed her a underwent a nearly fatal operation Claims against Nemagon, constant supply of medicine to that revealed her terminal disease. (ASOTRAEXDAN):16 control her liver inflammation, frequent fevers, pneumonia, and Manuel Guido Montoya was “The DBCP was used and sprayed diarrhea while Ana sits in a unable to have the children he in wide swathes onto unsuspecting wheelchair, staring blankly into once hoped would ease his people who lived within and around space.17 workload and bring home a few the banana plantations, some of extra dollars. Years ago, he tried to whom never even saw a DBCP Cristobal Acetuno picked and start a family but the woman left barrel. bagged bananas on plantations for him once she realized he was eight years. He is now nearly blind, sterile.18 He says he and his co- “The law is clear that once you often feels nauseous, has no workers were drenched in the place a dangerous product in the appetite and lives with rashes on pesticide. stream of commerce, you are liable his skin and lesions on his feet. for harm caused, no matter where Cristobal's two sons suffer from “Walking through the plantations, it is ultimately used. similar ailments that require we breathed in the vapors, I’d get headaches, a bloody nose, “The scientific evidence is medication, and his wife, also a former banana worker, has stomach-aches...You put up with a abundantly clear that sterility is lot of pain.”19 caused by DBCP. Moreover, there stomach cancer. Cristobal and his is ample scientific evidence that wife had been mistaking the DBCP causes cancer and also birth cancerous tumor in her stomach defects. for pregnancy until one day when

“[The companies] simply do not ©Manuel Esquivel/La Prensa want to be responsible in any court, in any country, or in any forum…It is simple why they do not wish to defend themselves and it is because they know full well they will lose.”

Flor de Maria Mendoza and her husband José Romero worked on banana plantations during the 1970s. They have four children. Two died at birth. Their 11-year old daughter, Ana Maria, was born with Roberto is only one of many children suffering from physical deformities in the banana growing area of Chinandega in Nicaragua

14 The Truth About Dow Intoxicating Louisiana

"The plight of the poor people is the same the world over. We empathize with the Myrtle Grove residents who have been exposed to dangerous chemicals. What they're going through is a slow-motion Bhopal" Champa Devi, Bhopal survivor, 2003

The town of Plaquemine on the athletic shoes, hoses and cables. Its A major concern was that the waste banks of the Mississippi, just south chemicals are everywhere. No would find its way into the of Baton Rouge is dominated by a wonder sales have boomed.2 Plaquemine aquifer, a large web of chemical tanks and pipes underground layer of drinking water.8 courtesy of Dow. Dow messes up Dow down the drain? But with the profits came toxic Now one of the biggest chemical waste, caustic odors and polluted Today the pool of vinyl chloride plants in the world, the complex water. In typical cavalier fashion, contamination stretches for miles was built on the site of an old sugar Dow simply buried waste on the under homes, businesses, schools plantation in 1956. Known then for Plaquemine site until 1974. Each and playgrounds in Iberville Parish, its clean air and good fishing, things successive layer was covered with a Plaquemine.9 In the Mryrtle Grove have changed irrevocably since. few feet of dirt.3 By the 1980s Dow neighborhood, two miles from Nearly everyone would say for the realized its landfills were leaking and Dow’s manufacturing facilities, there worse. In the 1970s the switched to incineration.4 This non- was poison in the well water. petrochemical industry moved into solution ushered in a new load of Louisiana and effected its risky emission problems, the toxic Vinyl chloride is a colorless, transformation. Today over a wastes already dumped have flammable gas at normal hundred chemical and oil haunted Dow ever since. Dow’s temperatures, with a mild, sweet companies occupy a stretch known rough estimate was that odor. It is a manufactured chemical as ‘Cancer Alley’. Dow’s plant kept approximately 121,800 tons of that is used to make polyvinyl expanding until it was generating chemicals were dumped in the chloride, more commonly known as about ten per cent of the company’s area.5 Many were known to be PVC plastic. PVC is used to make a worldwide sales by the early human carcinogens, others are very variety of plastic products such as nineties.1 toxic at low levels. Over time and pipes, cable coating, furniture and car seats. Vinyl chloride is a known Dow’s website boasts of the out of sight 275 million pounds of carcinogen.10 It is also a member of plethora of products made from toxic sludge spread outwards until it a group of chemicals known as chemicals produced in Plaquemine. occupied a 30-acre underground 6 ethylenes which have been found to Millions of pounds of polyethylene area. Dow has been cleaning up the be neurotoxins.11 The EPA classifies plastic are made into non-breakable mess over the years but it seems to vinyl chloride as a ‘medium’ cancer bottles, computer and electronic be a process without end. Asked hazard when inhaled and has components, automobile parts, how long it would take to clear up associated it with increased risk of disposable diapers, football the underground contamination Dow cancer of the liver, brain, lung and helmets, CDs and CD players, officials have said they expected the 7 digestive tract. adhesives, strengtheners for tires, cleanup would last “forever”.

The Truth About Dow 15 Intoxicating Louisiana cont

Animal testing has shown long term Other health concerns among layer and has not entered the water exposure can cause reproductive residents included mild headaches, in the aquifer. Dow continues to problems including miscarriage. rashes, changes in skin pigment, maintain it is not the source of the Dow is one of the largest makers of numbness, high blood pressure, pollution and accepts no vinyl chloride in the world. nose bleeds, stomach problems, responsibility. Dow has denied nausea, asthma, breast cancer, responsibility while also seeking to Although the Louisiana Department behavior problems and learning maintain their reputation in the of Health and Hospitals detected disabilities in children.15 People call community: the vinyl chloride in the Myrtle Grove the source of their ill health, ‘Dow “Regardless of the source(s) of the groundwater back in 1997 it failed to water’ and they believe the Dow contamination, Dow is part of the tell the people living there until 2001. Chemical plant is responsible for the community, and we’re committed to The EPA wasn’t initially informed contamination and their health being part of the solution.” either. At this point the Department problems.16 of Health and Hospitals did help Dow spokeswoman, Rebecca residents get access to safe water.12 As a result of the contamination the Bentley also proudly announces that But the damage was done. For at trailer park has been shut down and “Tests in the aquifer underneath the least five years and perhaps more, the mobile homes dragged away. plant itself showed no vinyl approximately 300 residents were The once vibrant African American chloride.” Other Dow tests have drinking, cooking, washing and community is no more. Meanwhile apparently showed waste water swimming in well water from the Dow officials still maintain that the from the plant flows mainly to the Plaquemine aquifer that was known underground waste that has seeped west and not towards the trailer to be polluted.13 out from the Plaquemine plant is park in the south-west. contained and protected by a clay Locals were concerned because of the number of miscarriages. “Me ©Greenpeace/Les Stone and Tammy, and Michelle, we all had miscarriages”, resident Faye Robertson has explained. Children burned and itched from bathwater and wading pools and health experts warned the residents that exposure could cause liver damage, nerve damage, circulatory problems and skin lesions. Surprisingly however, little is known about the effects of vinyl chloride in water. Because incidents of drinking or bathing in such contaminated water are so rare, scientists are unsure just how toxic it is and no acceptable dose level has been established.14 In Louisiana today over a hundred chemical and oil companies occupy a stretch known as ‘Cancer Alley’.

16 The Truth About Dow But EPA tests have shown that the residents are mostly long gone, “It When she and the other women aquifer 190 feet below the surface was a nice place” said Joyce here learned about the vinyl flows in a south to southwest Barrett, ex-Myrtle Grove Resident chloride, they began to count the direction which would carry it ruefully.19 number of miscarriages in recent directly under the trailer park. Wilma years. “Thirteen” she said. “That Subra, a scientist from the Louisiana Myrtle Grove residents ask many women on one street? Environmental Action Network for justice Something is wrong.” agrees. In 2002 over 200 current and former “I know I’ll never try again,” she said “It appears to be originating from residents of the now closed Myrtle of her pregnancy. “I’ll never do that the area where Dow has its Grove Trailer Park in Plaquemine again.” production facilities. They produce signed onto a lawsuit claiming Dow vinyl chloride. They sell it.” illegally and knowingly released vinyl In another interview Tammy voiced chloride and other poisonous She suggests that Dow’s monitoring the concerns of many residents: chemicals into their water.20 wells may be located in such a way “When are we going to get some help for us. Who is going to pay (for they are missing the migrating Resident Tammy Green lived in 17 health screening and health contaminants. Dow plant Myrtle Grove for 19 years employees also claim that for years problems)? I didn’t contaminate they were instructed to clean railway She and her husband Lloyd have myself.” cars used to transport vinyl chloride two children. She is also leading the and other chemicals by filling them Myrtle Grove Trailer Park Residents with water and dumping the Association. In 2003, before the resultant mix on the ground.18 Park was shut down she explained to New York Times reporter, Rick Few think Louisiana will make Dow Bragg how the poisoning had accountable. Dow employs too touched all their lives. many people and has too much economic clout. After a two-year “Once, before the water scared investigation, the Louisiana them, there would have been a baby Department of Environmental in a wading pool in almost every Quality is reluctant to conclude that yard, and people washing their cars the contamination emanates from in the driveways. Dow although it does concur that And we just all went on with life, Dow is the prime suspect. cooking with it, not knowing.” In December 2003 a construction On Father’s Day in 2000 she had a company began building a new miscarriage, but no one had told housing development on the site of them yet about the threat. the Myrtle Grove Trailer Park – soon to be known as Iberville Trace. The first homes should be completed early in 2004. The old Myrtle Grove

The Truth About Dow 17 Two world class betrayals

“After being exposed to gas from Union Carbide’s factory my family and I continue to suffer from a barrage of health problems. I suffer from breathlessness, chronic headaches, loss of eyesight and I am unable to do any hard labour…our earnings are cut in half due to health problems.” Laxmi Bai, Bhopal disaster survivor

As a result of its merger with the The avoidable disaster Litigation allegations against Union Union Carbide Corporation in 2001 Carbide assert dangers found in In Bhopal itself, people can’t make Dow has inherited the legacy of the safety audits of the Bhopal plant sense of it. Why do survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. This is not had not been fixed even though explosion of up to 40 tons of methyl only the world’s biggest industrial remedial measures were undertaken isocyanate (MIC) at the Union disaster to date but its physical and at Union Carbide’s identical MIC Carbide India pesticide plant on the emotional repercussions continue to plant in West Virginia.3 On the night night of the 2nd/3rd of December traumatize the capital of the central of the disaster water entered the 1984 continue to suffer? Union Indian province of Madhya Pradesh tank containing MIC through leaking Carbide located an inherently to this day. valves.4 The refrigeration unit, which hazardous factory in a crowded area should have kept the MIC close to of Bhopal despite knowing that the Clearly this was a tragic inheritance zero degrees centigrade, was technology was unproven and the for Dow, but one that gave it an allegedly switched off by company risks unknown. It is alleged that it opportunity to atone for the officials to save on electricity bills. decided to go ahead with suffering Union Carbide had caused Safety systems which were not substandard technology in India, by properly compensating the adequately designed to control such even when a safer technology was victims. Instead, Dow has continued a runaway situation, were awaiting with the policy of betrayal and used at its West Virginia factory.1, 2 denial Union Carbide initiated. © Raghu Rai/Greenpeace

The betrayal is such, that while few of us have heard of Bhopal’s spectacular eleventh century artificial lakes and impressive collection of mosques, palaces and bazaars, we are all familiar with the city’s suffering at the hands of these two companies. The failures of Union Carbide and subsequently Dow, to adequately compensate the victims of the disaster and the extraordinary lengths both have gone to in order to evade their liabilities have astounded people The explosion at the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal in 1984 caused – and is still causing – around the world. appalling suffering, yet Dow is not willing to be held responsible in any way

18 The Truth About Dow in Bhopal

repair. To avoid having the The environmental contamination of by the Indian government for Warren community be “unduly alarmed” due the site has rendered the Anderson, former CEO of Union to occasional leaks, the siren in the neighbourhood a dangerous place Carbide at the time of the disaster. factory had been switched off. to live. Greenpeace has declared the He is also absconding from justice. site a “global toxic hotspot”.9 Efforts are underway to summon Toxic hotspot contamination Poisons leaching from these wastes Dow to deliver Union Carbide to Twenty years later the Union have contaminated the groundwater appear in the criminal case and to Carbide factory is desolate and supplying 20,000 people. Studies have Dow clean up the Bhopal site.12 overgrown, but widespread health have found many of these poisons Since Dow absorbed Union Carbide problems continue. The explosion in the breast milk of mothers living 10 for $11.6 billion it has been quick to not only killed up to eight thousand near the factory. proclaim itself the world’s largest Bhopalis in its immediate aftermath. Dow’s liabilities chemical producer. Has it also Since the disaster, over 20,000 become the world’s most people have died from exposure- But despite the scale of the irresponsible? Dow, like Union related illnesses. Community continuing tragedy, Union Carbide Carbide before it, accepts no organizations in Bhopal put the and now Dow have not been willing responsibility for the continued injury figure at approximately to be held responsible in any way. suffering in Bhopal. In its 2002 500,000.5 An estimated 120,000 The original settlement claim of $3 public report the company tells us, remain chronically ill at least a third billion was reduced to $470 million “When Union Carbide Corporation of whom are too ill to work for a dollars in an out of court settlement became a subsidiary of The Dow living.6 The problems have been negotiated between the Chemical Company in February passed to children born since the Government of India and the 2001, the civil litigation in India had disaster, the most visible of which company without involving the been resolved for a decade.”13 include reproductive and physical survivors. It took until 1989 for development deficits and high rates Union Carbide to pay even this. Putting things more bluntly, Kathy of morbidity. Incidences of TB, The amount worked out to Hunt, Dow’s Public Affairs specialist, respiratory disorders, cancers, approximately $1170 for death and said in July of 2002 that, “$500 is infertility, panic attacks menstrual $520 for lifelong injury per person. plenty good for an Indian.”14 disorders and cataracts are also The compensation didn’t address way above the national average. the issue of lost livelihoods and Indeed, rather than accept its About 30 gas victims continue to die didn’t even cover loans for medical responsibilities Dow has taken a in hospitals every month. One study bills. In total the compensation very combative stance. For found growth retardation in boys amounted to less than a tenth of the example, in 2003 it initiated a who were exposed as toddlers or penalty against Exxon for the Valdez $10,000 lawsuit against a group of were born to exposed parents.7 oil spill in Alaska – where nobody Bhopal survivors that held a died. Dow’s subsidiary, Union peaceful protest outside the At the site itself Union Carbide left Carbide is an “absconder from company’s Mumbai headquarters, behind at least five thousand tons of justice” by the Chief Bhopal claiming damages due to lost waste chemicals when it vacated Magistrate for failing to appear productivity.15 the site four years before the Dow before the court on criminal charges 8 Chemicals merger. These chemicals relating to the disaster.11 Likewise, lie in open sheds and warehouses. an extradition order has been issued

The Truth About Dow 19 Bhopal testimonies

Rashida Bee “Already great injustice has been “Our earnings are cut into half due done to the people of Bhopal, who to our health problems. We all have been paid measly sums as merely received compensation compensation and denied their worth Rs 25000 (US $500) each legal rights in receiving interest.” and we have spent all of that money if not more in medical bills Laxmi Bai was 24 at the time of because we have taken loans to the gas disaster cover our medical costs.”

“At the time of the disaster I was Nazeer Ahmed was 20 years old Rashida Bee, winner of the 2004 living in Jai Prakash Nagar with my on the night of the disaster Goldman Environmental Prize, is three kids and my husband. Jai president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Prakash Nagar is located right “All my family members received Mahila Stationery Karmachari across from the factory. On the compensation of Rs 25000 (US Sangh, a trade union of women night of the disaster I was sleeping $500) each, which was barely survivors working for justice for the with my family and around midnight enough to cover our medical bills. survivors. She has lost five gas- I went to urinate. I had this burning All my siblings had to quit school exposed family members to sensation in my eyes as if someone because there was no money left cancers since the disaster. was burning chillies. I looked for their education. outside my house and all I could “Those who escaped with their see was a thick cloud of smoke. “Union Carbide cannot give back lives are the unlucky ones; the my father and my childhood where lucky ones are those who died on “All of us were under the blanket I was forced to work when I should that night. and we were all vomiting. We have been studying. All my family couldn’t see anything and all our and community members didn’t “Dow is responsible for the toxic eyes were swollen. Only in the only suffer on the night of Dec 2nd, contamination of ground water and morning we found out that it was 1984 but they continue to suffer soil in and around the abandoned the gas from the Union Carbide even after 19 years. Everyone has factory premises. factory that had leaked. lost their health, their ability to work; lost their family members. “The dumping of tons of chemical “My family and I continue to suffer waste is a major health hazard and from barrage of health problems. I “I would like Dow Chemical is causing all kinds of illnesses to suffer from breathlessness, chronic Company to take its responsibility over 20,000 area residents. headaches, loss of eyesight and I for Bhopal disaster and provide for am unable to do any hard labor. economic rehabilitation, social “Dow must take responsibility for support for widows and orphans, cleansing the water in the locality, “My daughters suffer from chronic medical treatment for next two undertake rehabilitation of the stomach problems; loss of generations.” people and ensure proper appetite, headaches. There are medication to two generations of even health problems in my Rubina was three years old on the sufferers. grandkids. They are weak and night of the disaster suffer from problems of “The compensation should directly breathlessness. “The gas leak from the Carbide be deposited into the gas victims’ factory has left scars on my family accounts rather than be given to and me that will never heal. the Government.

20 The Truth About Dow “I hold Union Carbide and now family and community after 20 Survivors campaign for Dow Chemical fully responsible for years and it is time that Dow justice this disaster. Union Carbide never Chemical starts listening to us.” told any of the residents living Female victims of the gas leak around the factory about the toxic Sheila Devi was 43 on the night of have launched a campaign to and lethal chemicals that were the disaster make sure Dow is held responsible for the disaster. being manufactured in the factory. “After being exposed to MIC my I want Dow Chemical to assume family members have never been The survivors are asking Dow to: their responsibility for Bhopal. healthy. I suffer from breathlessness and constant pain • Ensure that the accused face “I would never want anyone in this trial in India, world to suffer like Bhopal gas in my joints. My husband suffered survivors have been suffering for from weak eyesight and his lungs • provide long term health care last 20 years. We not only have to were completely destroyed. for the continuing and long-term fight to ensure justice for Bhopal, “After struggling with several health consequences among the but also to ensure that there are complex problems induced by gas exposed persons and their ‘No more Bhopals anywhere in the exposure he eventually died in children, world.” 1997. My daughter’s kidney has • provide economic and social Sameena Khan was 14 on the been damaged due to gas support to those have lost their night of the disaster exposure. My other children ability to work or their livelihood complain of constant pain in joints, due to gas exposure, and “The medical treatment that weakness, breathlessness, started on the day of the disaster diminished vision, and • clean up the toxic wastes, is on till date. I suffer from frequent reproductive health problems. contaminated material and headaches, joint pain, heartburn poisoned groundwater in and and breathlessness. My other “The total compensation received around the abandoned Union family members and other people by my 9 family members was Rs Carbide factory site in Bhopal. from my community also suffer 10,800 (US $ 2,200) and I must Dow has not only refused to clean from similar medical and economic have spent at least 500,000 (US up the factory site, it has not even problems. I lost both of my parents $11,500) on my family’s medical provided any further information within two years after the disaster. treatment. on the nature of the toxic gas so “Dow needs to assume its “I want Dow Chemical the new as to help with the treatment of the responsibility in cleaning up the owner of Union Carbide to provide survivors. factory premises. There are still jobs to gas survivors and social tons of toxic waste sitting in the support to those who are not able factory that has contaminated soil to work due to gas exposure. I also and water around the factory and want Dow Chemical to release the about 20,000 people are affected toxicology information on MIC and on a daily basis. The water is all the chemicals that leaked that polluted with mercury and night so that at least we can get mothers’ breast milk now contains effective treatment.” mercury. This is the situation of my

The Truth About Dow 21 The Dow in all of us

“Human milk, is the most chemically contaminated human food on the planet. Breast milk occupies one rung higher on the human food chain, than the food that adults eat...toilet deodorisers, moth-proofing agents, flame retardants, pesticides, dioxins, PCBs. These are the most common contaminants of breast milk. They are commonly found in the food, but are ten to a hundred times higher in breast milk because they are persistent and concentrate as they move up the food chain.” Sandra Steingraber, Rachel Carson Memorial Lecture, 2003

Every person alive today has long term effects of exposure might whelming majority of an estimated synthetic chemicals running through be. Virtually nothing is understood 940 million pesticides used in the their veins.1 Many of these of how these chemicals interact with US every year.5 Our exposure to its chemicals did not even exist before each other inside our bodies. pesticides increases over the course WW II. A good number have been of our lives. Some pesticides stay in produced by Dow. Its chemicals are Scientists have already discovered our bodies for decades and are collecting in our fatty tissue and potential harm from exposure to passed to the next generation. confusing our hormone systems. some individual chemicals ranges Although others are more Much of our food contains pesticide from reduced fertility and temporary, if they are constantly residues. Other chemicals are developmental damage in our used, we are constantly exposed. sprayed on fields or gardens and unborn children to neurological enter the air, soil and water. So disorders and cancers. Even For example, Dow was one of the chemicals enter our bodies when we exposure to miniscule amounts of companies that produced the eat, breath and drink. We pick up some chemicals can be harmful, notorious organochlorine contaminants by touching dust or especially to infants and children insecticide, dichloro diphenyl 6 earth. whose bodies are developing trichloroethane (DDT). This quickly and taking in much more pesticide affects the human nervous In 2003 the Center for Disease food, water, air and chemicals per system, can cause liver damage, is Control (CDC) undertook the most pound of body weight than adults. carcinogenic, is a developmental/ extensive study to date of The pesticide residues and other reproductive toxin and suspected pesticides and industrial chemicals chemicals are in our food, our endocrine disruptor.7 Once in the bodies of people across the cosmetics and our pets’ flea collars. considered a cure-all, it was used US.2 The scientists looked for just They are in the water we drink and for agricultural production around 116 of the thousands of chemicals the air we breathe. They are even the world from the 1940s until 1973 in modern use and they found all present in mothers’ wombs and when it was finally banned in the 116 of these chemicals the blood breast milk.4 US. Even today it is used as an and urine of the random people they insecticide in some countries.8 tested. There are likely to be Accumulating pesticides Not only can DDT remain in the hundreds more. It is estimated that The burden of pesticides in our body for 50 years, residues could there are 700 contaminants in each bodies increases throughout our 3 still be finding their way into the of us. Of up to 1.2 billion pounds of lives because of ongoing exposure food chain. A recent analysis of pesticides used each year in the US to contaminated air, water and food. organochlorine residues in the US no one knows exactly how many Dow is one of a handful of food by the Pesticide Action end up in our bodies or what the companies producing the over- 22 The Truth About Dow The implications

Network, found chemicals that have “…the United Nations Human Rights “If our daughter asks, 'What's a trout been banned for decades are Commission has recognized the stream?' what will I say? Will I showing up consistently in food right to a non-polluted environment explain that freshwater trout are now samples tested by the US Food and as a basic human right. The among the most contaminated fish Drug Administration. Breakdown Convention on the Rights of a Child in America, far too poisonous for her products of DDT can remain in the protect the child’s right to integrity to eat? Will I tell her that our soil and are easily carried on the of person and right to the highest government is willing to warn her wind and in water.9 possible standard of mental and against eating trout but reluctant to physical health. By anyone’s stop trout from being poisoned in Some of Dow’s products, like DDT, definition of basic human rights, the the first place?13 have been banned in the US but fact that infants are starting life with they are still being found in the a body burden of chemicals “If a mother’s body is contaminated, remotest regions of the planet and represents a gross violation of so too is the child who inhabits it. in most people’s blood or body fat. human rights and a violation of the These truths should inspire us all – Others cause birth defects and sacredness of life itself. mothers, fathers, grandparents, reproductive problems. Some cause doctors, midwives, and everyone cancer or are suspected to be “One of the results of the concerned about future generations mimicking and tricking hormones, Nuremburg Trials after World War II – to action.14 causing metabolic and was a universal agreement that developmental havoc in people and civilized nations should not engage “We need to remind everyone – wildlife around the world.10 in chemical experimentation on friends, neighbors, and political humans, even in times of war. Yet for leaders – that all toxic chemicals Health activists on the the last sixty years, the chemical capable of accumulating in the chemical body burden we all industry has engaged in a massive human food chain will, sooner or share chemical experiment on the world’s later, reach their highest human population and the entire concentrations in the milk of human The following extracts are from mothers.15 Sharyle Patton and Gary Cohen’s web of life. paper, Building the Right to Know “No one has ever given their consent “…human milk, is the most About Chemical Body Burden and for this experiment. Most people chemically contaminated human Stopping the Chemical Industry’s don’t even know it is happening.” food on the planet…Breast milk Toxic Trespass.11 occupies one rung higher on the Sandra Steingraber on the human food chain, than the food “In general the public is more aware implications of this body that adults eat...toilet deodorisers, of chemicals found in the fish they burden moth-proofing agents, flame consume or the data from toxic retardants, pesticides, dioxins, release inventories than they know In her book, Having Faith: An PCBs. These are the most common about the chemicals found in their Ecologist's Journey to Motherhood, contaminants of breast milk. They own bodies. But there is a deep Steingraber reveals the alarming are commonly found in the food, but psychological significance in extent to which environmental are ten to a hundred times higher in knowing that the tissues of one’s hazards – from industrial poisons breast milk because they are body are being used as a chemical found in amniotic fluid to the toxic persistent and concentrate as they storage site. contamination of breast milk – now move up the food chain.”16 threaten each crucial stage of infant development.12

The Truth About Dow 23 Our Dursban burden

“Pesticides are toxic substances that should be used with great caution…By misleading consumers about the potential dangers associated with the use of their products, Dow's ads may have endangered human health and the environment by encouraging people to use their products without proper care.” New York State Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, December 2003

Among Dow’s most poisonous The pesticide is a nerve toxin and When the Center for Disease legacies is the pesticide, suspected endocrine disruptor with Control (CDC) specifically tracked chlorpyrifos, marketed by Dow as the potential to alter and interfere levels of chlorpyrifos in the bodies Dursban and Lorsban. Well-known with the hormonal systems of of people across the US, its findings as a home and garden insect spray, insects, wildlife and people. Since were ominous. Chlorpyrifos was Dursban, was the most widely used the 1960s, chlorpyrifos has made found in 93 per cent of people household pesticide in the US until thousands of people sick each year tested and levels in children were 2000.1 Millions of pounds of Lorsban in the US.2, 3 It causes neurological twice as high as those found in are used on agricultural products. damage to children and can result in adults.6, 7 But the ordinary people who have blurred vision, fatigue, muscle relied on chlorpyrifos to kill their weakness, memory loss and Unhealthy profits? garden pests or protect their crops depression. It has been associated By 1998 the evidence that Dursban have been largely unaware of the with carcinogenicity, reproductive can cause severe health problems extent of its toxicity. and developmental toxicity, was overwhelming, but not only neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity.4, 5 were Dursban products still being sold over the counter, Dow was BananaStock prepared to risk the health of 60 Nebraskans paid to be tested with the insecticide.8

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally fined Dow $732,000 in 1995 for failing to disclose reports of the adverse effects associated with Dursban. Even then, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Dow continued to assert it was safe for humans. Although Dow still professes the chemical is safe, it finally and reluctantly entered into a voluntary agreement with the EPA. Dursban was removed from the Levels of chlorpyrifos have been found to be twice has high in children as in adults market in over-the-counter products in 2000.9

24 The Truth About Dow Somehow, Dow has still managed to urination, weakness, nausea, residues in Indian Coca Cola and avoid an outright ban however. It is diarrhea, headaches, confusion, Pepsi Cola products, including still using chlorpyrifos in the US for convulsions and respiratory chlorpyrifos in excess of EU drinking a limited number of domestic uses paralysis.11 According to the EPA, water standards.13 Dow also although some are being phased even a single application of continues to market Dursban as a out. It is still used on a number of chlorpyrifos poses risks to small ready-to-use formulation in India agricultural products such as mammals, birds, fish and aquatic where its sales literature claimed cotton, almonds, alfalfa, oranges invertebrate species for nearly all Dursban has "an established record and walnuts. Up to ten million registered outdoor uses.12 of safety regarding humans and pounds of chlorpyrifos are applied pets”, uses which are banned in the annually for agricultural purposes Double standards US. and in California, more than two Even so, US citizens can count But even back in the USA people million pounds of chlorpyrifos were themselves lucky that at least most 10 aren’t safe from Dow’s irresponsible used in 2000. chlorpyrifos used around the home and deceitful advertising. Dow is being phased out. But it is one We can be exposed to chlorpyrifos continued to illegally advertise rule for the US and another rule for by touching treated surfaces, safety claims about Dursban and the rest of the world. Dow continues breathing air near application sites other pesticides. In December 2003 to produce and sell chlorpyrifos in and eating food contaminated with Attorney General Eliot Spitzer finally countries in the Global South chlorpyrifos residues. These awarded Dow the largest pesticide including India. exposures take place in pesticide enforcement penalty in U.S. production plants, agricultural fields, In 2003 tests conducted by the history.14 homes schools and parks. Delhi NGO Centre for Science and Symptoms of exposure include Environment found pesticide excessive salivation, uncontrolled

The Truth About Dow 25 Cruel profile – a selection of

Dow’s impacts stretch well beyond causes "severe health effects after Silicone: Another key Dow product the cases illustrated in this report. A even short-term, high-level or that brought health problems in its selection of the company’s other longer-term, low-level exposure."4 wake is the silicone used in plastic historical and current, social and Union Carbide has been found liable surgery. Marketed by Dow Corning, environmental liabilities include: for thousands of asbestos-related a joint enterprise half owned by illnesses and deaths.5 As a result, Dow, it was first used for breast Chemical warfare: Dow has an Dow has declared its potential implants in the early 1960s.9 Many ignominious history of weapon asbestos liabilities could be up to implants leaked and ruptured and production. In World War I Dow 2.2 billion dollars.6 thousands of women alleged produced mustard gas. During adverse reactions to the implants.10 World War II it was the leading Semiconductor chemicals: Union A plethora of lawsuits ensued.11 Dow manufacturer of Phenol, a major Carbide has also been a major Corning expects to emerge from explosives ingredient, and during supplier to the semiconductor bankruptcy in 2004.12 the Cold War Dow produced industry which uses its chemicals in plutonium triggers for nuclear the manufacturing of silicon chips Genetic modification: Since Dow weapons. In addition to Agent for computer devices. Workers are announced in 1998 that it would Orange, Agent White and other claiming their exposure to begin “pursuing long-term, value- defoliants used in the Vietnam war, hazardous substances is linked to a added growth opportunities through Dow also produced napalm which variety of cancers, miscarriages and biotechnology”, it has been true to consisted of benzene, gasoline and birth defects. Union Carbide, IBM its word.13 Today, Dow, led by its polystyrene. The jellied liquid and National Semiconductor have subsidiary Dow AgroSciences, is a explosive stuck to the skin, burned all been named in lawsuits.7 major player in the agricultural through muscle and bone and often biotechnology world. Product lines killed people on contact. The unique Forgotten workers: The Metals include Mycogen Seeds, Bt corn properties of napalm were so Department of the American and Atlas Roundup Ready offensive Dow became a prime Federation of Labor – Congress of soybeans. Dow is also pursuing target of anti-war protestors. Industrial Organizations (ALF-CIO) industrial and pharmaceutical released a report titled Dow’s Union biotechnology applications. Asbestos: In addition to the Bhopal Workers – The Forgotten inheritance, Dow’s merger with Stakeholders in 2003 that Genetically modified (GM) crops are Union Carbide has brought with it a highlighted Union Workers concerns created when bioengineers insert range of other legacies such as that the company’s rank and file one or more genes into a plant’s asbestos.1 Carbide used asbestos workers end up paying the price for DNA. There is worldwide concern for insulation in its chemical plants its legal liabilities. The company’s that GM crops increase reliance on and marketed calidria asbestos for a executives and board are ultimately pesticides, deepen agribusiness variety of products such as floor and responsibility for Dow’s control over farmers and undermine ceiling tiles.2 Asbestos poses a environmental and social impacts. food security and sovereignty.14 serious health risk. Inhaling the The report asks why then, it appears Most biotech seeds are licensed to fibers greatly increases the odds of to be the workers that get laid off, farmers, not sold. It then becomes contracting asbestosis, whose contracts suffer and whose illegal for farmers to engage in mesothelioma, lung cancer, pay gets cut.8 traditional practices such as gastrointestinal cancer and other replanting, saving, trading, sharing cancers.3 EPA has called asbestos a or breeding seeds. In its 2002 "highly potent carcinogen" that annual report Monsanto admitted

26 The Truth About Dow other impacts

that research and development of operated through industry trade GM crops will result in the spreading organisations such as the of GM traits to non-GM crops.15 American Chemistry Council to lobby against these new In 2002 Dow contributed nearly 21 protective measures. Verdict.28 It is just one of many $400,000 to a $5 million advertising pesticides that can be manufactured campaign opposing a ballot initiative No expense is spared in the in the US, applied abroad and then that would have led to the labeling lobbying game. The American return as residue on imported of GM foods. Dow and the other Chemistry Council spent $4.68 foods.29 opponents spent 61 times the million lobbying in Washington in the amount supporters of labeling were first half of 1996 alone.22 The • Nuarimol, a fungicide causing able to spend on their advertising.16 chemical industry is also a regular cancer and birth defects in campaign contributor with access to animals.30 Not registered in the US Blocking European chemical senior Administration officials. From but sold in Africa, Colombia, regulation: The US chemical 1998 to 2002 Dow spent Honduras and Europe.31 industry, including Dow, was $12,210,000 on Washington instrumental in persuading the Bush lobbying – an average of more than • Oxyfluorfen, a herbicide Administration to block the efforts of $2.4 million a year.23 As a whole the classified by EPA as a possible the European Union to reduce the industry has given over $21 million human carcinogen.32 risks of chemical exposure. in campaign contributions since the • Telone, a soil fumigant that is According to a 2004 report from US start of the 2000 election cycle.24 House Representative, Henry A also a ground water contaminant Waxman, The Chemical Industry, A few more pesticides: Dow’s and carcinogen. One of its active The Bush Administration, and pesticide and herbicide portfolio ingredients, 1,3-dichloropropene European Efforts to Regulate extends well beyond the DDT, produces cancer and birth defects Chemicals, Dow and the rest of the DBCP, chlorpyrifos, Agent Orange in animals.33 industry vigorously lobbied in and Agent White already discussed. • Sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane), a opposition to draft European policy Dow has also produced: fumigant used to kill termites and known as Registration, Evaluation, other pests. Restricted for extreme and Authorisation of Chemicals • Clopyralid, a herbicide used 25 acute toxicity. In 2002 EPA granted (REACH).17, 18 widely on lawns and wheat crops. This has been found at harmful Dow a three year experimental REACH would require stricter levels in commercial and municipal permit to use sulfuryl fluoride as a management of chemicals compost in Washington, California, post-harvest crop fumigant on depending on their risk and require Pennsylvania and New Zealand.26 walnuts and raisins to evaluate its companies to provide scientific data Dow withdrew clopyralid for use on efficacy and safety.34 on the intrinsic properties and residential lawns in the US in 2002. hazards of each substance.19 The The chemical is a potential European Commission estimates groundwater contaminant.27 REACH could prevent between 2,200 to 4,300 occupational cancer • Haloxyfop, a herbicide that the cases per year. Health benefits of EPA would not register because of REACH could be up to $61 billion concerns that it is a probable human over a 30-year period.20 Dow carcinogen. This herbicide is sold throughout the world as Gallant and

The Truth About Dow 27 Greenwash and corporate

Dow assures us: It is meeting the and playgrounds.4, 5 trial. In India, too, Dow has taken no corporate sustainability challenge and steps to make Carbide appear in the is quick to report that it is “among the Dow profits: Breaking through to the criminal trial ongoing against it in a top companies in terms of corporate ‘Fortune 50’ in this year's magazine Bhopal court. Dow has been swift to sustainability in the chemical industry” ranking of the largest publicly held deny any links between its wastes according to the Dow Jones companies, Dow came in at No. 44 and well water contamination in Sustainability index.1 with $5 billion more in revenue than Myrtle Grove, Plaquemine. People in 6 rival DuPont. Chief Executive and Nicaragua, Bhopal and Myrtle Grove The truth is: Dow has not only been Chairman W. S. Stavropoulos also are not impressed with Dow’s talk of polluting property and poisoning received a bonus of $2.3 million in stakeholder engagement. people since it was established in the 2003.7 1890s – Dow continues to pollute and Dow reassures: “Like other Saginaw poison to this day. Meanwhile: As Stravropoulos and Valley residents, we care about the the company reap these financial health of the river.” 8 • There are toxic concentrations of gains, farmworkers suffering from Says Dow. In 2004 Susan Carrington, dioxin up to 80 times higher than the DBCP poisoning, victims of the Dow’s vice president and director of Michigan state criterion for 20 miles Bhopal gas disaster, Vietnamese the company’s Michigan dioxin 2 from the Dow Midland plant, Agent Orange survivors and Midland initiative said, Dow “is committed to and Saginaw residents whose • chlorpyrifos is in the bodies of up stepping up and doing what is right”, properties are contaminated with however, “Based on everything we to 93 per cent of Americans. Dow is dioxins are all still waiting for the primary manufacturer of know, it’s unlikely that anyone in this appropriate financial compensation community has absorbed enough chlorpyrifos. An estimated ten million from Dow. Union Workers are also pounds are still applied annually for dioxin from soils to have any health concerned that it is the company’s 9 3 effects.” agricultural purposes, rank and file workers who end up • Dow is still marketing chlopyrifos paying the price for its legal liabilities. The truth: If Dow is genuinely committed to stepping up and doing for use in over-the-counter products Dow aspires: “As a multinational outside the US, and what is right by the Tittabawassee corporation with growth aspirations in residents it will stop prevaricating. • in Louisiana 275 million pounds of a more complex world, we also Dow will clean up the dioxin Dow’s toxic sludge stretches for miles believe that stakeholder engagement contamination and fund the under homes, businesses, schools is a valuable, collaborative effort monitoring and treatment of health based on a mutual commitment to a implications. Dow's own studies in shared goal - a sustainable world.” the 1970s showed cancer at very low The truth is: Dow has not engaged in levels as a result of exposure to meaningful dialogue with Bhopal’s dioxins which also can cause a wide gas victims, DBCP poisoned range of non-cancer health effects farmworkers in Nicaragua or Myrtle including reproductive, Grove trailer park residents who developmental, immunological, and 10, 11 drank vinyl chloride contaminated endocrine system disrpution. water for five years. When Dow and Some levels of the Tittabawassee far other companies were sued by DBCP exceed state safety requirements set affected workers in Nicaragua in 2002 to protect people's health. It is it did not even participate in its own difficult to square these findings with

28 The Truth About Dow irresponsibility

Susan Carrington's confidence in the resolved.” Poorer countries or those with weaker health of the community. legislation shouldn’t be any The truth: Eighteen members of exception. Dow boasts: It takes “Responsible Congress sent a letter to Dow in July Care®”, through “a voluntary initiative 2003 condemning the corporation for Dow says it delivers valued within the global chemical industry to "refusing to address" its liabilities products: “Our materials play a safely handle our products from associated with the Bhopal gas critical role in meeting the world’s inception in the research laboratory, disaster. The letter states, "It is needs for pure water. FilmTec through manufacture and distribution, disheartening to note that a company membranes are used to tap into to ultimate disposal, and to involve such as Dow, who professes to lead previously unusable water sources to the public in our decision-making the chemical industry towards make safe affordable drinking water processes.” 'responsible care' shies away from its around the world.” 17 obligations when truly responsible The truth is: In addition to Dow’s care can be demonstrated.” “More The truth: At the abandoned Union implication in the suffering illustrated disturbing is the manner in which Carbide factory in Bhopal, volatile in this report and elsewhere, Dow Union Carbide and Dow Chemical organic compounds have been facilities had more accidents in the have ignored the summons of the seeping into the water that supplies US than any other Responsible Bhopal court. This exposes a blatant about 20,000 people for at least 20 Care® company except BP between disregard for the law.” 15 years. Some Tittabawassee River 1990 and 2003. A 2004 report from fish are too contaminated to be the US. Public Interest Research William S. Stavropoulos Chairman eaten. People were drinking vinyl Group (US PIRG), Irresponsible Care: and Chief Executive Officer chloride contaminated water in How the Chemical Industry Fails to pronounces: “While the Codes of Louisiana for at least five years Protect the Public From Chemical Practice may vary from country to without being informed of the Accidents reveals Dow and the other country, the spirit of Responsible Care contamination. The source of the chemical companies enrolled in the is the same: to protect people and the poison is still unidentified although a Responsible Care® voluntary safety environment.” 16 Dow facility is an alleged source. In program had more than 1,800 Vietnam people are still suffering from accidents a year since 1990.12 There The truth: Dow’s historical track- the effects of severe dioxin poisoning was also no downward trend among record and current failures suggest it because they had no alternative but companies implementing is swift to profit from the differences to drink water contaminated with Responsible Care® between 1999 between countries’ ability to protect Agent Orange. People living and and 2004.13 their citizens’ health. Dow continued working on banana plantations to ship DBCP around the world years around the world have been at risk of Dow empathises: “The terrible after it was banned in the US. It still drinking DBCP pesticide tragedy that occurred in Bhopal more markets chlorpyrifos for domestic use contaminated water. CDC studies than 18 years ago should never be in India, a practice discontinued in the suggest we are all at risk of drinking forgotten. Industry, including Dow, US. Dow’s out-of-court settlements water contaminated with pesticides has learned from such events and we for Bhopalis and Nicaraguans or synthetic chemicals due to the try to do all we can to assure that suffering from the aftermath of the widespread contamination of 14 similar events never happen again.” gas explosion and DBCP poisoning groundwater. do not even cover medical costs. But as far as Dow is concerned, “All Populations everywhere should be responsibility related to the Bhopal protected from Dow’s poisons. accident has been fully and fairly

The Truth About Dow 29 Conclusion

Dow spends millions on its marketing and PR and contributions Dow has sought to evade transparency. employs some of the world's leading public relations By conducting in-house research, participating in uni- agencies such as Ketchum Inc. It produces a glossy versity research and donating thousands of dollars and reassuring Global Public Report and a plethora of aimed at funding research studies that will further their regionally focused Public Reports around the world. business, Dow ensures its own world view prevails. Dow's chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, William S. Stavropoulos, is quick to boast of Dow's The ordinary people featured in this report urge values and its high standards of environmental steward- William S. Stavropoulos and the other senior ship, and corporate social responsibility. executives at Dow to spend less time on the lobby- ing, advertising and influencing science and more Through campaign contributions, at conferences, in time making a difference where it matters most - lobby groups and through targeted donations Dow cleaning up its poisons, reforming its product line, makes sure it isn't adequately regulated and doesn't and compensating the victims of its toxic legacies. pay compensation commensurate to the suffering it has caused.Through its PR Dow attempts to detract attention from its poisonous legacies. Through financial Dow’s to do list

• Dow must stop producing chemicals and chemical • Dow must take responsibility for the continuing products, and stop chemical processes that tragedy in Bhopal. Dow must ensure that the jeopardize health or the environment, accused face trial in India, provide long term health care for the continuing health consequences among • Dow must stop producing persistent organic the exposed, provide economic and social support pollutants or products which create POPs in their life to those that have lost their ability to work or their cycle, and stop selling products that are known to livelihoods due to gas exposure, clean up the cause cancer, birth defects and/or genetic damage, poison that contaminates the ground water and soil and those that disrupt hormonal messaging, cause in and around the abandoned Union Carbide factory developmental changes or diminish intelligence, and provide relevant information on the nature of • Dow must not launch any new product until all its the toxic gas to help with the treatment of survivors. toxicological and ecological effects have been • in Plaquemine, Louisiana Dow must clean up all the thoroughly investigated and made public, toxic waste it is responsible for and compensate the • Dow must not produce or sell products anywhere people poisoned by its toxic wastes as appropriate, else in the world which are banned in the US. • Dow must stop evading justice in Nicaragua and Specifically Dow must stop all sales of chlorpyrifos pay compensation to Nicaraguan workers and their in other countries for uses prohibited in the US, families suffering from its DBCP poisoning, and • in Michigan Dow must dredge and clean up the • Dow must address the damage it has caused in dioxin contaminated Tittabawassee floodplain and Vietnam and adequately compensate the surrounding areas, set up a fund to monitor and Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange contamination treat the health implications of the contamination and Vietnam veterans seeking redress for health and adequately compensate residents for falling effects associated with Agent Orange exposure. property values,

30 The Truth About Dow Want to know more?

More about Agent Orange a regional leader in the struggle for Scorecard and Vietnam’s trauma clean air, safe water, healthy A source of free and easily communities, and environmental accessible local environmental The Britain-Vietnam Friendship justice. information. Type in a zip code to Society has initiated a petition to www.ecocenter.org/healthdow.shtml learn about environmental issues in the US Government. In March 2004 your community. Scorecard ranks more than 4,000 concerned people Michigan Department of and compares the pollution situation from around the world had put their Environmental Quality (DEQ) in areas across the US. Scorecard signatures to the petition Information on dioxins in Michigan. also profiles 6,800 chemicals, demonstrating the global reach of www.michigan.gov making it easy to find out where solidarity and sympathy with the they are used and how hazardous Agent Orange sufferers. The petition Michigan Department of Community Health they are. can be signed at www.scorecard.org www.petitiononline.com/AOVN/petiti More information on dioxins in on.html Michigan. More information on DBCP, www.michigan.gov bananas, multinationals and The Vietnam Association of Agent Orange Victims DioxinSpin Central America may be contacted at Established to gather and share The Nicaragua Network Hanoi, str, Linh Lan, 11/41 information about the many issues Is committed to social and Vietnam associated with dioxin economic justice for Nicaragua, contamination in Midland and in the Latin America and the world, based More information on the adjacent Tittabawassee River. David on respect for sovereignty and self- Tittabawassee River Lindhardt, A former Dow Chemical determination. The Network contamination Engineer with 28 years of tenure, advocates for sound US foreign has created this web site. policies that respect human rights Tittabawassee River Watch (TRW) www.dioxinspin.com An organization of concerned and international law. The Nicaragua property owners along the river The Center for Health, Network provides information and promoting the protection of their Environment and Justice (CHEJ) organizing tools to a network of 200 homes, health, and river from the Coordinates the Alliance for Safe solidarity, sister city, and peace and effects of Dow’s dioxin Alternatives a national campaign to justice committees across the US. contamination: eliminate persistent toxic chemicals www.nicanet.org www.trwnews.net such as dioxin. The campaign is US/Labour Education in the made up of over 500 groups, Lone Tree Council Americas Project (US/LEAP) including farmers, environmental Is an independent organization that A community-based, environmental justice groups, faith-based groups, organization. The group works supports economic justice and public health advocates, Vietnam basic rights for workers in Central toward cleaner air, water and soil in Veterans, scientists, and community the Saginaw Valley. America, Colombia, the Dominican leaders all working to get persistent Republic, Ecuador, and Mexico. The Ecology Center (EC) chemicals out of our air, soil, water Focuses on the struggles of workers A membership-based, non-profit and food. who are employed directly or environmental organization based in www.chej.org/ indirectly by US companies. Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Center is www.usleap.org

The Truth About Dow 31 Want to know more cont

Bananalink Greenpeace International More about chlorpyrifos A UK organisation working alleviate Toxic Hotspots campaign – featuring Pesticide Action Network North poverty and prevent further Bhopal America (PANNA) environmental degradation in banana www.greenpeace.org/international_en/ Dow Chemical, overview including exporting communities, Bananalink is campaigns/intro?campaign%5fid=3991 information on Dursban. working towards a sustainable banana www.panna.org/resources/documents/ economy. It aims to achieve this by Union Carbide Corporate Profile dow.pdf working co-operatively with partners in Profile of Union Carbide including a list of major spills, a corporate history and Latin America, the Caribbean, West Pesticide Action Network (PAN) executive compensation. Africa and the Philippines and with a Pesticides Database www.endgame.org/carbide.html network of European and North PAN North America’s pesticide American organisations. More information on our database allows you to search for www.bananalink.org.uk chemical body burden toxicity, regulatory and other information by chemical or product. More information on Dow, Centers for Disease Control www.pesticideinfo.org Union Carbide and the Second National Report on Human ongoing tragedy of Bhopal Exposure to Environmental Chemicals Center for Disease Control Second National Report on Human International Campaign for Justice in The second in a series of publications Exposure to Environmental Chemicals Bhopal (ICJB) that provide an ongoing assessment of An umbrella organisation of groups and the exposure of the US population to The second in a series of publications individuals who have joined forces to environmental chemicals using providing an ongoing assessment of campaign for justice for the gas biomonitoring. Biomonitoring is the the exposure of the US population to survivors of Bhopal. Spearheaded by assessment of human exposure to environmental chemicals, using survivor groups and long-time chemicals by measuring the chemicals biomonitoring. supporters. or their metabolites in human www.cdc.gov/exposurereport www.bhopal.net specimens such as blood or urine. Dow Chemical. A rap sheet www.cdc.gov/exposurereport The Sambhavna Trust More information about Dow Chemical Run by a group of eight doctors, Chemical Body Burden and Dursban: scientists, writers and social workers More information about the chemical www.bhopal.net/gda/dow%20- involved with various aspects of the body burden we all carry and its health %20rapsheet%20final.doc Union Carbide disaster ever since its effects - known and unknown from Agency for Toxic Substances and occurrence in December 1984. Coming Clean, a network of groups Disease Registry (ATSDR) www.bhopal.org and individuals whose common goal is to work together on chemical policies Students for Bhopal Agency of the U.S. Department of and campaigns to protect public health A national network of students Health and Human Services provides and the environment from exposures to campaigning for the victims of the information to prevent harmful harmful and unstudied chemicals. Bhopal disaster, the world's worst exposures and disease related to toxic www.chemicalbodyburden.org industrial tragedy. substances. Its fact sheet on www.studentsforbhopal.org The Sandra Steingraber website chlorpyrifos is at: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts84.html Has resources on chemicals and reproduction including breastfeeding. www.steingraber.com/

32 The Truth About Dow ReferencesReferences

Agent Orange – Vietnam trauma 18 Dow Chemical: Risks for Investors op cit 11 How much dioxin has been found? 1 Schecter et al, A follow up: High Level of 19 bid Tittabawassee river watch http://www.trwnews.net/howmuch.htm#phas Dioxin Contamination in Vietnamese From 20 ibid Agent Orange, three decades after the e3 21 ibid spraying, Letter, Journal of Occupational and 12 2003 Michigan Family Fish Consumption Environmental Medicine, 44(3): 218-220, Midland’s dubious endowment Guide March 2002 http://www.michigan.gov/documents/FishAd 1 Information bulletin 3, visory03_67354_7.pdf 2 Scott-Clark, C and Levy, A, Spectre Tittabawassee/Saginaw River Flood Plain orange,The Guardian, UK, Saturday March Environmental Assessment Inititiative, 13 How much dioxin has been found? op cit 29, 2003 Midland, Saginaw and Bay Counties. 14 ibid http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0, Michigan Department of Environmental 15 Stettler, J, Dioxin numbers reassure Dow, 3605,923715,00.html Quality, June 2003 upset residents. The Saginaw News February 3 Blumenthal, R, New York Times, New http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deqrrd 24, 2004, York Times,July 6 1983 -TR-JUNE_2003Bulletin.pdf 4 Akhtar et al, Cancer in US Air Force 2 Dow web statement, DBCP – A tragedy forewarned Veterans of the Vietnam War. Journal of www.dow.com/about/aboutdow/vision.htm 1 Doyle, J, Trespass Against Us Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 3 Public comment release, Petitioned (forthcoming publication) 5 Office of Veteran Affairs, Appendix d: Health Consultation. US Dept of Health and 2 ibid Agent Orange Exposure Related Diseases Human Services, May 15, 2002, 3 ibid www.trwnew.net 6 Wolfe et al Diabetes versus Dioxin Body 4 Thrupp, L. Direct Damage: DBCP Burden in Veterans of Operation Ranch Hand, 4 Multi-media risk assessment by the U.S. Poisoning in Costa Rica, Dirty Dozen Finish Institute of Occupational Health Environmental Protection Agency, 1985 Campaigner, May 1989 Organohalogen Compounds 1992: 10: 279- 5 Birnbaum, L and Farland, W, Health Risk 282 5 Trost, C, Elements of Risk: The Chemical Characterization of Dioxin and Related Industry and its Threat to America, New York: 7 Development of Impact Mitigation Compounds; Office of Research and Times Books, 1984 Strategies related to the Use of Agent Orange Development, US Environmental Protection 6 Doyle op cit Herbicide in the Aloui Valley, Vietnam, Vol.1 Agency and Huff J. Dioxins and Mammalian and Vol. 2 April 2000. Also, Agent Orange Carcinogenesis, in Schecter A, ed. Dioxins 7 ibid Victims Support Fund Benefits over 220,400 and Health. New York: Plenum, 1994: 389- 8 Trade Secrets: A Moyers Report. (Aug1, 2003) The Vietnamese News Agency. 408 Transcript. Public Broadcasting Service, 2001 8 Scott-Clark op cit. 6ibid http://www.pbs.org/tradesecrets/transcript. html. 9 Dow Chemical: Risks for Investors, 7 Landrigan et al, Environmental Report prepared by Innovest Strategic Value Neurotoxicology, Washington DC. National 9 Doyle op cit. Advisors (forthcoming publication) Academy Press, 1992. 10 ibid. 10 Scott-Clark op cit 8 Deeder, B, A thumbnail Sketch of a Great 11 Ibid 11 ibid Flood in Southeast Michigan, Weather 12 Beachy, B. Farmworkers Wage Legal Historian, WFO Detroit/Pontiac Mi, 12 Dauenhauer, K, Vietnam: Agent Orange Battle against US Companies that Poisoned http://www.trwnews.net/ Still Killing after Three Decades, IPS News, Them. The Nicaragua Monitor, 2003 July 9, 2003 9 Information bulletin, 13 Doyle op cit Tittabawassee/Saginaw river flood plain, 13 Scott-Clark op cit Environmental Assessment Initiative, 14 El Nuevo Diario, October 9, 2002 Michigan Department of Environmental 15 Beachy, B. op cit 14 Case Study: Dioxin, Chemical Body Quality, Midland, Saginaw counties, 2002 16 ibid Burden website http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq- www.chemicalbodybuden.org/cs_dioxin.htm 17 ibid erd-trf-DEQ-dioxinbulletin-(FINAL).pdf 15 PAN Pesticide Database, Pesticide Action 18 Gonzalez, D and Loewenberg, S, Banana 10 Citizens ask for Federal Probe into Major Network North America, Workers Get Day in Court. New York Times, Dioxin Cover-up in Michigan, Lone Tree www.pesticideinfo.org 2003 Council press release 2002 www.misko.com/library/Banana%20Workers 16 Dow Chemical: Risks for Investors op cit %20Get%20Day%20in%20Court.pdf 17 Case Study: Dioxin op cit 19 ibid

The Truth About Dow 33 References cont

Intoxicating Louisiana 2 Lapierre, D and Moro, J, Five Past The Dow in all of us 1 Doyle, J, Trespass Against Us, Midnight in Bhopal. Warner Books. 2002 1 Onstot J et al, Characterization of (forthcoming publication) 3 Union Carbide Moved to bar Accident at HRGC/MS Unidentified Peaks from the 2 About Dow in Louisiana US Plant Before Bhopal Tragedy. The Wall Analysis of Human Adipose Tissue. Volume 1: http://www.dow.com/facilities/namerica/laop Street Journal. 1985 Technical Approach. Washington, DC: U.S. s/dow/ 4 Design Flaws Contribute to Gas Leaks. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Toxic Substances. 1987 3 Dow Poison Vinyl Chloride in Plaquemine, The New York Times, 1985 WBRZ News, August 2002, 5 Background, International Campaign for 2 Protecting Our Health, CDC report on http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Polyvinylchlo Justice in Bhopal, body burden. 2003 ride/Dow-Vinyl-Chloride- http://www.bhopal.net/oldsite/backdam.html, http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/ Plaquemine14aug02.htm on 11 August 2003. 2004 3 http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/ 4 Doyle op cit 6 Background, International Campaign for whatisbb.htm 5 Doyle op cit Justice in Bhopal, 4 Schafer, K and Reeves, M, Polluting Our http://www.bhopal.net/oldsite/backdam. Bodies Without Permission 2003 6 Doyle op cit html on 15 February 2004. http://www.panna.org/about/pu/pu_200303. 7 Doyle op cit 7 Varma D et al, Methyl Isocyanate 03.dv.html 8 Doyle op cit Exposure and Growth Patterns of 5 ibid 9 Dunne, M, Vinyl chloride source still Adolescents in Bhopal. Research Letter; 6 Dow Chemical, Pesticide Action Network mystery; little known of chemical’s effects. Journal of the American Association, Oct. 8 North America World Bank Accountability The Advocate, March 10 2002 2003 Bol. 290 Project 10 Ibid 8 Brown, D. The Dead zone, Guardian 7 ToxFAQs for DDT, DDE and DDD. ATSDR, 11. Landrigan, P J et al, Environmental Weekend Newspaper, 2002 2002 Neurotoxicology. Washington, D.C. National http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts35.html 3605,794860,00.html Academy Press, 1992 8 Case Study: Organochlorine Pesticides 12 Bragg, R, The New York Times, May 5, 9 http://www.greenpeace.org/international_ Coming Clean Network 2003 en/campaigns/intro?campaign_id=3991 http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/cs_orga 13 ibid 10 Surviving Bhopal 2002: Toxic Present nochl.htm Toxic Future, The Fact-Finding Mission on 14 Dunne op cit 9 Doyle, J, Trespass Against Us, Bhopal (FFMB), 2002 (forthcoming publication) 15 Petitioned Health Consultation, Public 11 Government Finally Acts on Anderson’s 10 ibid Comment Release review of groundwater Extradition, The Indian Express, July 16, 2003 sampling results from the Myrtle Grove Trailer 11 Patton, S, and Cohen, G, Building the Park well system, Myrtle Grove Trailer Park 12 Singh H, MP wants Dow to Cleanup Right to Know About Chemical Body Burden Plaquemine, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, Carbide Mess, State to Approach Centre for and Stopping the Chemical Industry’s Toxic Feb 3, 2003. Supreme Court Action. The Indian Express, Trespass, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/ Bombay, 2002 http://www.ombwatch.org/rtkconference/ myrtlegrove/myr_p1.html 13 Dow Public Report 2002 body_burden.html by Environmental Health 16 Doyle op cit http://www.dow.com/publicreport/2002/pdfs/ Fund 233-00207.pdf 17 Dunne op cit 12 Sandra Steingraber’s website, 14 Hold Dow Chemical liable for the Bhopal http://www.steingraber.com/ 18 Dow Poison Vinyl Chloride in Plaquemine gas disaster, join the worldwide relay hunger op cit 13 Steingraber, S, Having Faith: An strike for justice in Bhopal, Earth Summit Day Ecologist’s Journey to Motherhood.A Merloyd 19 Bragg op cit of Action on Bhopal. CorpWatch bulletin Lawrence book, New York: Perseus 20 Sue Dow, allege cover-up, The Advocate, 2002 Publishing, 2001. http://www.corpwatch.org/bulletins/PRT.jsp? 10 Jan 2002 14 Sandra Steingraber’s website op cit articleid=3611 15 ibid Bhopal 15 The Lawrence Summers Memorial Award, 1 Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973., Multinational Monitor, Vol. 24 No. 3, Mar 2003 16 Transcript of Rachel Carson Memorial Proof from Carbide itself, Frontline Magazine, http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2003 Lecture, 2003, http://www.pan- Vol. 19 issue 26 December 21, 2002 – Jan 3. /03march/march03award.html on 11 August uk.org/RCMl03.htm 2003 The Hindu Group. 2003.

34 The Truth About Dow Our Dursban burden 14 Dow subsidiary to pay $2 million for 13 Dow Announces Biotechnology Strategy, 1 Agency Administrators announcement, making false safety claims in pesticide ads, Dow Chemical Company News on Call, 2000 New York State Attorney Eliot Spitzer 8 September 1998, http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/announcemen Press release 2003 http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/ t6800.htm US Environmental Protection http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2003/dec/ stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/0 dec15a_03.html 9-08-1998/0000745885> on 12 August 2003 2 Eskenzi B et al, Exposures of Children to 14 Pesticide Action Network North America Organophosphate Pesticides and Their Cruel profile Potential Adverse Health Effects, Environ. online presentation, Genetically Engineered 1 Stirewalt, C, New Jury Now Will Health Perspect 107 (Suppl. 3). June 1999 Crops and Foods Determine Damages in Dow Chemical Case, http://www.panna.org/resources/geTutorial. 3 Dow Chemical: A rapsheet. International Charleston Daily Mail, 25 Oct 2002 html Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, 2004 www.dailymail.com/news/News/2002102524/ 15 Dow Chemical: Risks for Investors. 4 Dow. Living, Poisoned Daily, Greenpeace 2 Hot Topics, May 2003 – Facworld North Report prepared by Innovest Strategic USA fact sheet: America Advisors (forthcoming) www.greenpeaceusa.org/toxics/dow_ http://www.facworld.com/Facworld/ENVPOL 16 Money and Ballot Measures in the 2002 factsheet.pdf L.NSF/FacWorld/May2003North%20America Election 5 Summary of the Hazards of Dursban ?OpenDocument&Ref=HotTopics www.ballotfunding.org/PostElectionpdf (Chlorpyrifos), Natural Resources Defence 3 Asbestos 17 The Chemical Industry, The Bush Council, http://www.injuryboard.com/view.cfm/ Administration, and European Efforts to http://www.nrdc.org/health/pesticides/bdursb Topic=90 an.asp Regulate Chemicals, A Special Interest Case 4Ibid Study, United States House of 6 ibid 5 Girion, L, Dow Chemical liable in Representatives Committee on Government 7 Chemical Trespass, Pesticide Action asbestos-related cases October 26 2002 Los Reform – Minority Staff Special Investigations Network North America (forthcoming Angeles Division April 1, 2004 publication) 6 Dow Chemical Shareholders Challenge http://www.house.gov/reform/min/pdfs_108_ 8 The stuff in the backyard shed. The Management on Dioxin 2/pdfs_inves/pdf_admin_reach_rep.pdf pesticide is effective and sells like mad. But is http://www.socialfunds.com/news/release.cgi 18 Pesticide Action Network North America it safe for everyone? U. S. News and World /1808 Online Dow Profile (forthcoming) Report on Dursban. 1999. 7 Konrad, R, IBM, ex-employees go to 19 The Chemical Industry op cit http://www.getipm.com/news/usnews-tv.htm court over `cancer cluster’ Associated Press 20 ibid 9 Dursban Announcement, US Posted on Thu, Sep. 25, 2003 21 www.americanchemistry.com Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 http://www.svtc.org/media/articles/2003/sjme http://www.epa.gov/epahome/speeches_060 rc_925.htm 22 Infact’s Hall of Shame Campaign 8.htm www.infact.org 8 Dow Workers/Stakeholder Initiative Dow’s 10 Chemical Information About Chlorpyrifos, Union Workers – the Forgotten Stakeholders 23 Biotech Industry Lobbying Expenditures Pesticide Action Network Pesticide – A publication of the Metal Trades 1998-2002, Capital Eye, Database: Department, AFL-CIO http://www.capitaleye.org/bio-lobbying.asp http://www.pesticideinfo.org/PCW/Detail_ 2004 9 Doyle, J, Trespass Against Us, Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC33392 (forthcoming publication) 24 The Chemical Industry op cit 11 ToxFAQs for Chlorpyrifos, Agency for 10 Zimmerman, S, Silicone Survivors: 25 Green, E, Clopyralid by Dow Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.1997 Women’s Experience with Breast Implants, AgroSciences Found in Composted Grass, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts84.html Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1998 LA Times 27 December 2001 12 Chlorpyrifos facts, Interim Reregistration http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Clopyralid 11 Doyle op cit Eligibility Decision (IRED), EPA 2002 -Composting-Dow.htm 12 Doyle op cit http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factshee 26 ibid ts/chlorpyrifos_fs.htm 27 http://www.pesticideinfo.org/ 13 Dirty Dow Fact Sheet, Students for Detail_Poisoning.jsp?Rec_Id=PC36017 Bhopal http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/ 28 Brockley, R, Corporate Profile Dow: the DirtyDow.htm menace from Midland, http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1 991/07/mm0791_10.html

The Truth About Dow 35 References cont

29 Marquardt, S et al, Rejected Toxics Join 9 Stettler, J. Dioxin discrepancies. The the “Circle of Poison”, Saginaw News, April 04/04/04 http://archive.greenpeace.org/gopher/campai 10 Coming Clean website, Dioxin Case gns/toxics/1992/neverreg.txt Study 30 Brockley, R op cit http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/cs_ 31 Marquardt, S op cit dioxin.htm 32 Pollution Litigation Review – FacWorld, 11 Kociba, 1978, cited in America's Choice, 2002 Children's Health or Corporate Profit, The http://www.facworld.com/FacWorld.nsf/doc/ American People's Dioxin Report Technical polllitrev0202 Support Document November 1999 Center for Health, Environment and Justice Falls 33 1,3-dichloropropene (Telone II) Chemical Church, VA Fact Sheet 9/86 chemical fact sheet for: 1,2- http://www.safealternatives.org/report.html dichloropropene http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/fumigant 12 http://uspirg.org/uspirg.asp?id2= /dichloropropene/fumi-prof- 12860&id3=USPIRG& dichloropropene.html 13 Irresponsible Care: The Failure of the 34 Pesticide Information Profile: Sulfuryl Chemical Industry to Protect the Public from Fluoride, Extension Toxicology Network, Chemical AccidentsU.S. PIRG Education September 1993 Fund. 2004 http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UT /pyrethrins-ziram/sulfuryl-fluoride-ext.html F-8&oe=UTF- 8&q=meghan+purvis+chemical+accident+rep Greenwash ort&spell=1 1 Dow 2003 Annual Report 14 Dow 2003 Annual Report op cit http://www.dow.com/financial/2003ann/index 15 Corpwatch bulletin 2003 .htm http://www.corpwatch.org/bulletins/PBD.jsp? 2 Information bulletin, articleid=7669 tittabawassee/saginaw river flood plain, 16 Dow web statement Environmental Assessment Initiative, http://www.dow.com/environment/care_info.h Michigan Department of Environmental tml Quality, Midland, Saginaw counties, 2002 17 Dow 2003 Annual Report op cit http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq- erd-trf-DEQ-dioxin-bulletin-(FINAL).pdf 18 Bhopal water fact sheet. Greenpeace http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/docume 3 http://www.dowagro.com/chlorp/about/ nts/Bhopalwater.pdf index.htm 4 Dunne, M, Vinyl chloride source still mystery; little known of chemical’s effects. The Advocate, March 10 2002 5 Doyle, J, Trespass Against Us, (forthcoming publication) 6 Marchlewski, K, Midland Daily News 03/22/2004 http://www.trwnews.net/Documents/News/20 04/mdn032204.htm 7 Dow Jones newswires March 17, 2004 7:00a.m. 8 Dioxin and the Tittabawassee River Flood Plain http://129.33.46.234/pdfs/about/Dioxin%20a Written by Lisa Rimmer nd%20the%20Floodplain.pdf Designed by Deborah Thompson

36 The Truth About Dow Written by Lisa Rimmer Designed by Deborah Thompson for

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