I just read a disturbing report stating that the federal government plans on dumping old canisters of VX nerve gas into the Delaware River starting next year. They'll be dumping 10,000 gallons/day every day for 2 years.
Supposedly, the government will contracting Dupont, Inc. to detoxify the VX poison to a concentration of ~20ppb (parts per billion) before dumping it into the river.
I'm not typically a worry-wort regarding these things, but even 20ppm concerns me given that a) this chemical was specifically designed to destroy the human nervous system, b) there are no publically-available studies citing the negative effects of acute or chronic exposure to ingesting similar concentrations of VX dissolved in water. I just hope that VX has a short half-life, or we may be living with this stuff for a long time.....including those of us that don't live close to Delaware.
I've just focused on the potential impact on human health--there could be ecological, economic, and social consequences.
What's this country coming to?
Supposedly, the government will contracting Dupont, Inc. to detoxify the VX poison to a concentration of ~20ppb (parts per billion) before dumping it into the river.
I'm not typically a worry-wort regarding these things, but even 20ppm concerns me given that a) this chemical was specifically designed to destroy the human nervous system, b) there are no publically-available studies citing the negative effects of acute or chronic exposure to ingesting similar concentrations of VX dissolved in water. I just hope that VX has a short half-life, or we may be living with this stuff for a long time.....including those of us that don't live close to Delaware.
I've just focused on the potential impact on human health--there could be ecological, economic, and social consequences.
What's this country coming to?