Political Quotes

“In 1942, a standard was set of 50 parts per billion. Science in those days recognized that arsenic was dangerous, they recognized it was a toxic substance. We all knew that. We have seen the play and the movie. In 1942, when arsenic was set at 50 parts per billion, we did not know so much about arsenic as a potent carcinogen that can cause bladder cancer and lung cancer and skin cancer. We did not know it had been linked to kidney and liver cancer. We did not know in 1942 that it can be linked to birth defects and reproductive problems. We know that today. The World Health Organization has recommended that that number be brought to 10 parts per billion. The National Academy of Sciences has said the 50 parts per billion is much, much too high. State after State after State in this country has brought the number way down to 10 or less. The State of Washington has recommended a standard of 3 parts per billion. My State of Ohio has recommended a standard of 10 parts per billion. Massachusetts has supported a standard of 5 parts per billion. Alabama supported a standard of 10 parts per billion. In Ohio, 137,000 residents in my home State may be drinking water with arsenic above the levels recommended by the National Academy of Sciences.”