James Howard Gibbons

Senior Editorial Writer

Houston Chronicle

I want to thank the Houston Chronicle and Dan Feldstein for his informative series of articles regarding arsenic levels in Houston water. I want to thank you for your editorial "Texan prescriptions for a silent spring" in rebuttal to Tom Delay's viewpoint on safe standards for air and water quality in which he states "I believe the free market will not only clean the environment, but will get the job done more quickly and effectively than government intervention would." The public is finally understanding that big contributors to campaigns sometimes have influence over decisions regarding standards of safety and that science is being manipulated by industry "eager to avoid the expense of reducing their toxic exposures".

According to Michael R. Harbut, M.D., M.P.H. with the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine in Southfield, Michigan, both the U. S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and EPA have listed arsenic as the first hazardous substance in their list: "Top 20 Hazardous Substances." Prior and recent peer-reviewed publications have shown that arsenic is associated with the following cancers: skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, lung, bladder, kidney, liver, prostate, digestive system, nasal cavity, and bone cancer; acute myelogenous leukemia; and lymphoma.

Harbut further states recent peer-reviewed publications have shown that arsenic is associated with the following noncancer diseases: 1. Respiratory disease; bronchitis.

2. Benign skin changes (e.g., patchy hyperpigmentation, eczematous dermatitis, hyperkeratosis of palms, and soles, follicular dermatitis) 3. Circulatory disease, especially peripheral vascular diseases, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cerebravascular disease (e.g., cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage) 4. Diabetes mellitus 5. Neurological disorders in the form of peripheral neuropathy, tremors, encephalopathy, and confusion, delirium, and seizures. 6. Hepatomegaly, liver cirrhosis, and jaundice 7. Hernatological disorders (e.g., anemia; leukopenia, thrombocytopenia eosinophilia, pancytopenia, impaired folate metabolism, basophilic stip- pling, karyorrhexis) 8. Gastrointestinal disturbances (e.g., nausea and vomiting; diarrhea; and stornatitis) 9. Systemic manifestations (i.e., hypovalemia-hypotension, anorexia and weight loss, and malaise and fatigue).

10. Kidney diseases 11. Irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, conjunctivitis, and rhinitis.

Harbut reports that the presence of arsenic in the body is best measured with a 24-hr urine-arsenic test. There is no evidence in the literature for an absolutely safe level of urinary arsenic excretion with respect to cancers or non-cancer diseases.

I was appalled to discover from the Houston Chronicle article on 11/5/01 that seventy-seven Harris County water systems exceed the original proposed EPA standard of 5 parts per billion for arsenic, with twenty-four above the 10 parts per billion range.

I was discouraged to learn from your editorial that at the suggestion of then-Gov. George W. Bush, the Texas Legislature allowed hundreds of the dirtiest industrial plants in the state to voluntarily clean themselves up regarding air pollution. You state years later, only "one has done so."