Where Do Americans Get Cancer?Pend Oreille County

The high cancer rates of Pend Oreille county residents are going up. Right now, Pend Oreille county has higher cancer rates then all of its neighboring counties (Stevens, Bonner, Boundary) and higher rates then the next larger circle of counties (Ferry, Lincoln, Spokane).

These images were taken from the National Cancer Institute; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  An interactive map is available here.

Pend Oreille county is the pink county just above Spokane. If you notice, it ranks quite poorly compared to the surrounding counties.

Both Kootenai and Shoshone county (Idaho) have high to very high rates of cancer. Shoshone county has a high rate due to its history of mining and smelting operations.

Mining is and almost always has been the county's best known industry. The county's Silver Valley is one of the nation's greatest mining regions.  Shoshone County

They forgot to mention their high rates of cancer now found in Shoshone county, but there you have it. Money always triumphs over health and we're all supposed to go along with this while we get sick and die.

Kootenai county also has a higher rate of cancer. Breast cancer, lung cancer and all cancer types are shown by county on the interactive map link above.

Here is a image of the mines in Kootenai county, which contain a lot of lead mines:

You can find another interactive map here.

Fortunately, Newport has built a new Family Care facility in town. Residents are going to need it if the smelting operation in Usk is built. This will be a boon for the doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists that will be needed. Health insurance costs will skyrocket.

Environmental factors are well known to contribute to the various types of cancers. Long-term exposure to toxins, chemicals, carcinogenic compounds is definitely a factor when conducting health related studies. Cancer is not the only disease that can be caused, but it is one of the most feared.

No resident will be immune from any environmental conditions that negatively affect their health. This includes the soil, water, air and food we ingest. We are "immersed" in these elements day and night wherever we may be. We can only be as healthy as the environment in which we live.

The staggering rise of cancers and other environmental related illnesses in the 20 and 21st century is astounding. Many of the causes have been traced to pollutants found in drinking water, food, air quality and soil. Any industrial operation that contributes to any decline in the environment is a suspect contributor.

Here's what Washington state looks like, you can also see the Panhandle region for cancer rates.

This isn't good. The western portion of the state exhibits pretty high cancer rates, as does Pend Oreille county way off on the eastern edge of the state (pink county above Spokane). Notably, Pend Oreille county is surrounded by other less affected counties.

Here's the mines already in Pend Oreille county:

Some Pend Oreille county officials are stupidly hoping for a new smelting operations in Usk which will make a bad situation even worse.

One thing I've found it do not assume that any of these people "know more then you do" because they most certainly don't. I've also found that they are quite indifferent to the concerns of county residents. This is why you are not being told the whole story of what we can expect.

If you want to know why Pend Oreille County has the problems that it does, it is because we do not have competent representation. They are responsible for the health and conditions of this county and now some of them are proposing to make it worse for the rest of us.

This is unconscionable and cannot be allowed. But you will have to do something to stop it. Don't assume that doing nothing will be sufficient because it won't. Remember, they are indifferent to residents. You will need to express your anger and displeasure that they would even consider a smelting operation that will affect our quality of life here. And if that doesn't work, they will need to be removed.

There are many other possible projects and proposals that could be developed in Pend Oreille county that would have a truly negligible impact on environmental health - and provide needed jobs and growth. A smelting operation however, is most certainly not one of them.

Smelting Operations, Air Pollution and Taxes

The REC Silicon smelter in Moses Lake, Washington has been ordered by the Washington State Department of Ecology to reduce its atmospheric pollution levels.

These gases include:

• Carbon dioxide
• Nitrous oxide
• Methane
• Hydrofluorocarbon
• Perfluorinated compounds
• Sulfur hexafluoride
• Nitrogen trifluoride

Smelting operations reported by the company are 140,681 and 150,819 metric tons of the gases being produced each year.

These figures do not represent anything else (hundreds of thousands of tons of sand being delivered by rail), transportation of final products, delivered fuels, chemicals and gases. The real number of atmospheric pollution is considerably higher.

The REC facility in Moses Lake had previously shut down a portion of its operation due to competition from China. Now, REC is challenging the tax assessment land values with Grant County.

The lesson here for Pend Oreille County residents is the revenue expectations for the County and the proposed production / job creation from the smelter isn't going to be a breath of fresh air for Pend Oreille County residents at all. In fact, the rising levels of pollutants, toxins and gases that will be released will have a direct effect upon health, wildlife and the soil / air / water quality.

Here's a sample of what happens when air pollution levels trigger lawsuits from a smelter - this is a story that has been repeated all of the world and in America by the way. The whole concept of "responsibility" and "avoidance" are glaringly absent.

Note that the word oft-used for environmental pollution is the word "reduced" in the available documentation on silicon smelting operations, including the REC facility. This is gobblygook speak to deflect detailed inquiry on exactly what toxins are used or produced, which include Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen, Sulfur Hexaflouride (SF6), Silicon Tetrafluoride (SiF4), Sulfur Difluoride (SF2), Silane (SIH4), Tetrafluorosilane (SIF4), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2).

The REC facility has published more details here about (some) of the gases it produces as part of its operations.

These are the material safety data sheets for the REC smelter in Moses Lake. The Usk smelter would have the same hazards:

Silane (pdf files)
Polycrystalline Silicon
Disilane
Monochlorosilane
Dichlorosilane

The proposed smelting operation by HiTest Sand, Inc. in Usk will undoubtedly have an impact on property tax values too for residents in the area. My expectation would be to see property taxes increase (they're already far too high) due to the expected increase in the local population, house sales and any residential construction that might occur.

This is a photo of the REC smelter:

Not everyone in Moses Lake / Grant County is happy about "their smelter" either or what it's done for their community including the visible light pollution at night.

I'll say this again:

All smelting operations, no matter what kind or what process they utilize, or how advanced they may be, produce significant amounts of toxic wastes, byproducts and fugitive emissions (escaped gasses and fumes). They also produce excessive amounts of dangerous dust (to humans and wildlife) and harmful particulates during operation. Some byproducts are sold, others are not and can be stored onsite in unprotected pits. Extremely dangerous chemicals are also used, which will have to delivered by commercial transport through our communities. Accidents / spills / shutdown are COMMON with smelting operations.

There are many dangerous chemicals used and created by modern silicon smelters, such as trichlorosilane. Trichlorosilane is then distilled to remove remaining impurities, which typically include chlorinated metals of aluminum, iron, and carbon. It is finally heated or reduced with hydrogen to produce silane (SIH4) gas.

The byproduct of polysilicon production - silicon tetrachloride - is a highly toxic substance that poses severe environmental hazards. When exposed to humid air, silicon tetrachloride transforms into acids and poisonous hydrogen chloride gas, which can make people who breathe the air dizzy and can make their chests contract.

Illness and disease surround these type of operations, including pulmonary fibrosis, cancers (lung, stomach, colon, prostate, liver, pancreatic, etc.) with incidents rise 1.5 to 1.7 times the normal rate.

Pend Oreille County residents need to understand the risks that are being proposed. County officials appear to be completely oblivious and ignorant of what these operations really entail, or how competition from China could derail their dreams of additional revenue for the County.

Ruining our air, water and soil for a handful of proposed jobs is just plain stupid. Asking us to shoulder an even greater tax burden is downright criminal.

Cancer Deaths In Pend Oreille County

Here is some more evidence that our elected officials are doing a piss-poor job protecting Pend Oreille County residents from environmental hazards.

Pend Oreille County ranks as one of the WORST counties in terms of cancer-related deaths.

This is deaths only, which means all cancer diseases which do not result in deaths (illness) is not factored in to this total.

This is a link to the map of the leading cancer states in the country - Washington ranks very high.

Residents of Usk and the Kalispel Tribe are particularly suspect to being downwind of any environmental hazards. Since the Ponderay Newsprint (upwind) went into operation, sicknesses and disease have increased (according to local residents). The great irony here is the tribe has developed the Camas Health Center for the community.

If the Silicon smelter is built next to the Newsprint, this will be yet another environmental hazard for the local residents.

Pend Orielle County Hazards

I've been discovering all kinds of hazards in Pend Oreille County that residents may or may not be aware of. My research into the proposed silicon smelting operations has caused me to investigate other smelting operations elsewhere, mining operations and environmental risks to residents.

There is already a 13 Mile Risk Zone around Ponderay Newsprint, which is exactly where the silicon smelter is proposed to go: see page 11 for definitions and the listing on page 194.

http://www.comingcleaninc.org/assets/media/images/Reports/Who's%20in%20Danger%20Report%20and%20Table%20FINAL.pdf

3.5 million gallons of water per day are being discharged in the river too from the Newsprint.

There have been multiple air quality violations by the Newprint too, which locals may also be aware of.

The Pend Oreille River is already being polluted. This is long, but well worth reading. Pollution and toxins are being discharged into the river.
http://www.colvilletribes.com/preliminary_assessments_and_site_inspections_of_lower_pend_oreille_river
_mines_and_mills_in_pend_oreille_county__april_2002_.php

Obviously, Pend Oreille County is not doing their job. They've permitted a LOT of violations and violaters to stay in business or fail to clean up the mess they're creating.