linda corwin <lindacor@...> wrote:

Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:16:32 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
From: linda corwin <lindacor@...>
To: Linda Corwin <lindacor@...>
Subject: chloramine alert - Please write your legislators now
CC: gregorykula@...

Hi,

As you know, CCAC has been having meetings with the SFPUC, local water districts on the Hetch Hetchy Water System, BAWSCA and state legislators in an effort to find a way to get the health effects of chloramine on humans studied. Assembly Member Ira Ruskin has introduced a bill the last two years and although neither one made it to the floor for a vote, we are optomistic that it will ultimately succeed. Many encouraging developments have happened in the last year, such as a lecture by Dr. Marc Edwards on chloramine which can be seen on our website under "effects on plumbing". Also, new research has been published on disinfection byproducts (DBPs) created from the use of chloramine by Dr. Michael Plewa, EPA researcher at the Univ. of Illinois. This research reveals that the new hitherto unknown and unregulated DBPs created by chloramine, when used as a water disinfectant, are many magnitudes more toxic than those created by chlorine. Dr. Plewa recently remarked to Mrs.Johnson-Kula that, based on his findings, he personally recommended that utilities switch back to the use of chlorine-only for water disinfection because we have traded a 'possible' problem with chlorine's DBPs for a definite and much more serious problem from chloramine's DBPs. He also said that these new chloramine DBPs are in California water supplies as well as in many other water systems throughout the country. He had previously published research on iodoacid DBPs formed by chloramine which were not widespread in occurrence. These new DBPs are much more widespread (nitrosamines, haloacetonitrils, etc).

Since our website, www.chloramine.org, went up a little over a year ago, we have been contacted by people in many different states and several of them have started groups of their own. Now CCAC, along with PCAC (People Concerned About Chloramine - our Vermont group) and Vermonters for a Clean Environment (VCE), are working on a national effort to include people from other states who are also suffering symptoms from chloraminated water and who are actively involved in getting chloramine removed from their water systems. CCAC, PCAC, and VCE are working to take this issue to the national level. To that end, CCAC is meeting with all local Federal lawmakers to educate them about chloramine and its negative effects: health, environment, and water infrastructure. CCAC met with staff members from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo's office on July 3, 2007. The meeting was very fruitful. Dennis Agatep, Anna Eshoo's aid, has initiated a Congressional Research Service and is scheduling a meeting toward the end of August between Denise Johnson-Kula, President of CCAC, and the California State EPA, to discuss a waiver so that Hetch Hetchy and possibly other water systems can return to the use of chlorine instead of chloramine while Ira Ruskin's studies on the skin, respiratory, and digestive effects of chloraminated water are being conducted.

Denise Johnson-Kula is also scheduled to give a presentation to
Congressman Tom Lantos and his staff on Aug, 30, 2007, and Zoe Lofgren on September 11th. CCAC will be scheduling meetings with other Federal lawmakers in the coming weeks and months.

It's important that each legislator see constituants from their district, so we are asking you to please consider joining us when we meet with your Federal legislator. It is also of the utmost importance that they hear from you now. I have included, as an attachment, a list of state and Federal legislators. Please write to the ones that represent your area and also Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. (You can write one letter which can be copied and sent to each of your legislators). Please send a copy of your letter to me along with a list of your legislators and whether you would be able to attend a meeting with us. You will only be asked to identify yourself and relate your symptoms or concerns. Your participation will make a world of difference in our ability to further the campaign to remove chloramine from our tap water.
Take Care,
Linda Corwin, Vice Presient, Citizens Concerned About Chloramine

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