- Target:
- Government of Canada
- Region:
- Canada
Canadian Navy destroyers, tankers, and destroyer escort ships built in the 1950's and 1960's contained toxic PCB's: "Any of a family of industrial compounds produced by chlorination of biphenyl, noted primarily as an environmental pollutant that accumulates in animal tissue with resultant pathogenic and teratogenic effects."
Polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB's are known to cause cancer, genetic, and neurological disorders in those exposed to them, even over a short period of time. The above mentioned warships were eventually sunk as artificial reefs after decommissioning, and divers later found high levels of PCB's emanating from them. While this poses a risk to marine, plant-life, and recreational divers, what about the 10's of thousands of Naval personnel who lived, worked, and sailed on these vessels during their 30 year life span?
Record of the discovery can be found in many news archives, this is one as an example:
We, the undersigned, on behalf of Canadian Navy Veterans, civilian support personnel, the environment, and the general public, demand that this claim be investigated, corrected, and appropriate recommendations and recompense be carried out immediately by the Government of Canada, and her respective departments, including Environment Canada, and the Canadian Armed Forces.
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The Investigate Toxic PCB's on Canadian Warships petition to Government of Canada was written by Mike Grady and is in the category Military at GoPetition.