Letter: Ban Fireworks with Perchlorate Over Water

Line Beauchamp
Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs
Édifice Marie-Guyart, 29th Floor
675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est
Québec (Québec)
G1R 5V7

Line Beauchamp,

RE: Ban Fireworks with chemical Perchlorate over Lac Simon.

The mission of the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs is to protect the environment and natural ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations. Its leading role is to promote sustainable development and, in keeping with that responsibility, it aims to keep the environment healthy within the confines of economic development and social progress.

3 of your fields of activity are:
1) prevention or reduction of water, air and ground contamination;
2) management of the public water domain and dams;
3) quality of drinking water;

Every July, Municipalite of Lac Simon has fireworks over the actual water of Lac Simon. This must end immediately. It must be no longer accepatble to risk our drinking water. The precautionary principle must be adhered to NOW.

I have forwarded this email to your partners, the regional and local players including municipalities of Lac Simon and La Petite Nation.

Looking forward to a responce.

Thanking you in advance.

All the best.

Paul

***********************

News: April 28, 2007 — Perchlorate, a chemical used in rocket fuel and FIREWORKS, is turning up in the nation's food — in vegetables like lettuce and spinach — and WATER SUPPLY.

You've never heard of it? Most Americans haven't, but millions have been exposed to it. This week Congress held hearings to determine just how dangerous it is to humans' health.

"A study from the Centers for Disease Control last year tested almost 3,000 people who are representative of the U.S. population. They found perchlorate in every single person," said Dr. Anila Jacob of the Environmental Working Group.

So how did something used to launch inter-continental missiles and the space shuttle find its way into our homes?

At a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce this week, a government report was made public for the first time revealing that at sites in more than 25 states, perchlorate had leaked into the drinking water and soil. About 65 percent of that contamination was attributed to the Department of Defense and to NASA.

The Pentagon said it has invested "over $114 million in research related to perchlorate toxicity," and that they are "developing substitute chemicals."

Doctors agree that large amounts of the chemical can lead to thyroid problems in adults and abnormal brain development in children, but it is still unknown how much damage smaller amounts can inflict.

"The developing fetus can have severe inhibition of brain development as a result of perchlorate intake by the mother through drinking water or through breast milk," Rep. Albert Wynn, D-Md. said.

Democrats on Capitol Hill are working on a bill that would require the EPA for the first time to set strict guidelines limiting the amount of perchlorate in the nation's drinking water.

For now, more research is being done to determine if the amounts present today can cause any serious damage to people's health.

Thanking you in advance.

Sincerely,

Paul Malouf

CC: Municipality of Lac Simon & regional municipalities of La Petite Nation