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California Medical Association Passes Resolution on Dioxin and Medical Waste Incineration California Medical Association 116-00 Adopted 12 March 2000 Authors: Judith Mates, MD and William Goodson, MD Introduced By: San Francisco Medical Society Endorsement: San Francisco Delegation 100% For more information, contact:
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Dioxin and Medical Waste Incineration Whereas, a primary ethical principle of Medicine is "First, Do No Harm"; and Whereas, medical waste incineration produces both toxic air emissions and toxic ash residue, and has been identified as the third largest known source of dioxin air emissions and contributes about ten percent of the mercury emissions to the environment from human activities; and Whereas, dioxin is classified as a known human carcinogen and has also been linked to endocrine disruption, endometriosis, reproductive abnormalities, decreased fertility, testicular atrophy, immune system impairment, neurotoxicity, and other effects in both animals and humans; and Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the lifetime risk of getting cancer from dioxin exposure is above generally accepted safe levels, with children, infants, and fetuses especially vulnerable; and Whereas, dioxins are created and released into the environment when chlorinated waste, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is burned; and Whereas, more than 90 percent of the dioxin in our food supply comes from waste incinerators and other combustion systems; and Whereas, the amount of dioxin produced by medical waste is a small percentage of total dioxins but still a potential health hazard; therefore be it RESOLVED: That CMA encourages the adoption of alternative products and practices that will lead to the reduction and elimination of dioxin release into the environment from medical products composed of chlorinated hydrocarbons; and be it further RESOLVED: that this matter be referred to the AMA for national action. |