Expert Statements
The following individuals have been provided detailed information regarding site history and analytical laboratory data from environmental assessments conducted at this site.
Weston is a reputable consulting firm, however, there are differing scientific opinions based on their data. Opinions and toxicological health assessment provided to Clean Schools Initiatives are by credible scientific experts in their fields. It is not unusual for scientist's to disagree about the interpretation of data. Parents have the right to know this and need to make the choice for themselves based on the potential risks at this site.
"A thorough investigation is needed to determine the extent and severity of contamination present at the entire site. Until this is done, it is not possible to define the risks facing the children, teachers, and workers who would attend the proposed school..." [FULL STATEMENT] – Stephen U. Lester, Science Director, Center for Health, Environment, and Justice. Master’s in Toxicology from Harvard University and Master’s in Environmental Health from New York University. CHEJ website
"The 'risk-based screening criteria' used by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) are not in fact established or set to adequately protect children, in my view, from short-term exposures. Children are highly vulnerable to even brief exposures to trace concentrations of toxic chemicals because they have rapidly developing nervous systems and breathe at much faster rates than adults, thereby increasing their chemical exposures." [FULL STATEMENT] – Dr. Neil Carman, Director of Air Quality, Texas Lone Star Chapter, Sierra Club. Thirty years experience, including 12 at the TCEQ, as well as serving on State of Texas and US EPA advisory panels.
"It is well known that children can be much more susceptible to chemical toxicity than adults because they are still growing and developing. Limited information is available on the potential toxicity to children of many of the chemicals (and their mixtures) used at the Sasol site. In my opinion, it would be best to eliminate the risk to highly vulnerable groups like children by simply not building a school on that site." [FULL STATEMENT] – Dr.Guy Lanza, Director of Environmental Sciences and Professor of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
"This mindset clearly places the risk on our children to be used as 'lab rats' to test whether the (the district's) "experts" assumptions are correct." [FULL STATEMENT] - Mr. Edward Moherek, retired licensed engineer (NJ, PA, & NC). 30 years experience in the petrochemical industry and management of hazardous wastes.