Dear David,

Have there been any "extinctions" of molluscan taxa attributed to tributyl
tin?  Perhaps a better word is extirpation (local eradication).

Harry


At 01:47 AM 9/11/00 +0000, you wrote:
>Dear all,
>
>Last week or so there was some discussion of the effects of a ship
>anti-fouling paint on mollusks.
>
>The unexpected disaster due to tributyl tin was one of two examples of
>endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) cited in a new report by the British
>Royal Society, according to the free newsletter "Rachel's Environment and
>Health Biweekly." Over 100 species of mollusks have been adversely affected
>by the paint and in some cases there have been population declines and even
>extinctions.
>
>"Rachel's" does a good job of digesting and explaining important scientific
>findings and discussions to a lay audience. And it does so from a point of
>view independent of the constraints sometimes placed on corporate and
>academic science.
>
>Rachel's recently had an illuminating review of a new book published by MIT
>Press,  "Making Better Environmental Decisions: An Alternative to Risk
>Assessment," by Mary O'Brien. It has a critique of the current
>government/corporate dogma called "risk assessment," which always asks "How
>much risk is acceptable?" The book proposes another standard, "alternatives
>assessment," which would essentially ask, "How little damage is possible?"
>
>If folks would like an electronic copy of the article about the Royal
>Society findings and/or the review dealing with risk assessment please
>e-mail me privately at [log in to unmask]
>
>
>David "I like my micros but I like to look at the big picture, too" Kirsh

Harry G. Lee
Suite 500
1801 Barrs St.
Jacksonville, FL 32204
USA   904-384-6419
<[log in to unmask]>
Visit the Jacksonville Shell Club Home Page at:
http://home.sprynet.com/~wfrank/jacksonv.htm

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