SOCECOL E8 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Precautionary Principle, Master Sergeant
16 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
I. Master Sergeant Daughter: Janey Ensminger
A. Janey was killed by cancer, specifically leukemia
B. Her death was caused by water contamination at Camp Lejeune, where she and
her family resided in the housing area of Tarawa Terrace. The source of water
was from a nearby well where the chemicals found were PCE and TCE.
According to reports, consumption or exposure to these chemicals could possibly
lead to leukemia.
C. The marines knew of this water contamination but took no action, there were
several reports found that warned the marines that the level of the chemical
present exceeds the limit for exposure. Moreover, they had built another well that
was adjacent of a dumping site of chemicals and toxic things, which was also
later found to be contaminated.
D. The marines took too long to respond, they state that they first needed to find the
source of the contamination before they will do something. In this case, it took
years to find where the contamination was coming from and then the wells were
close but damage was already done.
II. Precautionary Principle
A. This principle is when an activity or product raises threat or harm to the
environment or human health, then precautionary measures should be used;
even if it is not fully known on what the cause and effects. In other words, when
there is any evidence that a certain activity is causing harm or a threat, we must
take action and not wait for the scientific results of the activity, since it could be
too late.
III. Blumberg Myth and Realities
A.
EPA under aegis of FIFRA, TSCA and
other laws test effect of chemicals on
human, animal, and environmental health.
EPA test nothing and requires only that
manufacturers perform the basic
toxicological testing for toxicity and
carcinogenesis
EPA test precautionary principle in
regulating chemicals
No, beyond a shadow of doubt is adopted
before the chemical is unlicensed
EPA and FDA conduct exposure
assessment that measure real life
exposure and protect us from dangerous
chemicals
Exposure assessment based on modeling
and rarely ever measures exposure
EPA & other agencies use “state of art”
science to evaluate chemical safety
Laboratory science used is largely archaic
and influenced by entities being regulated
IV. Workplace Exposure - Sheri Farley
Document Summary
Master sergeant daughter: janey ensminger, janey was killed by cancer, specifically leukemia, her death was caused by water contamination at camp lejeune, where she and her family resided in the housing area of tarawa terrace. The source of water was from a nearby well where the chemicals found were pce and tce. In this case, it took years to find where the contamination was coming from and then the wells were close but damage was already done. In other words, when there is any evidence that a certain activity is causing harm or a threat, we must take action and not wait for the scientific results of the activity, since it could be too late. Epa under aegis of fifra, tsca and other laws test effect of chemicals on human, animal, and environmental health. Epa test nothing and requires only that manufacturers perform the basic toxicological testing for toxicity and carcinogenesis.
