Risks to Public Health and Water Resources

Carbon Capture and Storage Overview

Michigan sells its natural beauty to the rest of the country through its "Pure Michigan" tourism campaign. Michigan has a long history of environmental and conservation innovation and leadership. Unfortunately, in recent years, that dedication has weakened, and investment has faded.

Located in the center of the planet's greatest freshwater resource, Michigan has a unique role as steward and caretaker of the majestic Great Lakes. They contain almost 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water, and Michigan is the only state entirely within their basin. The rivers, streams, ponds and groundwater that are the Lakes' lifeblood are also the backbone of the Michigan economy, essential to the health of its ecosystems and vital to our very identity as Michiganders. Unfortunately, our water resources are at continuing risk.

Michigan is only as strong as its next generation. That's why Michigan legislators must be forceful advocates for the health and safety of children, especially children in economically disadvantaged areas who are typically exposed to higher levels of pollutants.

This can be accomplished through laws limiting chemicals and pollutants linked to afflictions like childhood asthma, obesity, autism, learning disabilities and cancers.

Many of our laws and protections, however, are outdated, ineffective and have not kept pace with a new generation of scientific and health research.

Investing in Michigan-made clean energy will inject prosperity into our economy and stimulate
new job growth throughout the state. Global demand for clean energy products is skyrocketing. By positioning ourselves as leaders in advanced-battery technology, solar component manufacturing and wind turbine production, Michigan businesses will cultivate global markets.

In Michigan, we import 100% of our coal, 100% of our uranium, 97% of our petroleum and 80% of our natural gas. This amounts to more than $26 billion being permanently shipped out of the Michigan economy annually.¹ Homegrown clean energy ventures will produce jobs here in Michigan and keep that money circulating locally.

Bags are a Leading Source of plastic marine pollution

• International Coastal Cleanup data shows that bags are one of the leading causes (#4) of marine wildlife entanglement
• Plastics in the ocean degrade into micro-plastics and are ingested by marine wildlife, replacing food sources for many marine species - causing them to become part plastics - or to choke or suffocate
• Trash deprives marine ecosystems of oxygen and degrades water quality- it chokes shorelines and wetlands, degrading habitat

Disposable bags represent a huge waste of resources

• Approximately 8 million barrels of oil are used each year to manufacture the 19 billion plastic bags used in California.

More than 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced for use in the US since World War II.  Yet very few of these have ever been adequately tested for their potential impact on our health.  Scientific evidence increasingly indicates that toxic chemicals contribute to this epidemic of diseases and disorders.  Clean Water Action is supporting “An Act for a Competitive Economy Through Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals” which will establish a pragmatic, gradual approach to reducing health impacts from many toxic chemicals we are exposed to in everyday life.

Learn more about our everyday exposures to toxic chemicals, the details of the Safer Alternatives Bill and what you can do to help pass it.

Safe Products Made Safely is a set of 10 fact sheets covering the scientific, economic and common sense arguments for passing the Massachusetts Safer Alternatives Bill.  Each title is the link to the pdf.

1. Scientists Sound Alarm for Our Health.  A large body of scientific evidence demonstrates that toxic chemicals are causing unexpected health damage and contributing to widespread diseases and disorders.

Eight years after September 11th, sobering warnings remain unheeded regarding the vulnerability of U.S. chemical plants to terrorist attacks. Journalists across the country have repeatedly made their way into more than 80 chemical plants demonstrating the ease with which fence-line security can be penetrated. As President Obama said in 2006, "these plants are stationary weapons of mass destruction spread all across the country."

The potential for fatalities and economic disruption from an attack on one of these plants is staggering. A 2001 U.S. Army Surgeon General study estimated that in densely populated areas 900,000 to 2.4 million people could be killed or injured in a terrorist attack on a U.S. chemical plant in a densely populated area.