Charleston Confronts Alarming Waterway Pollution from Toxic Plastics Chemical

Charleston Faces Hazardous Plastics Toxin Issue

Hey there, Charleston! It seems we’ve got ourselves a serious concern brewing in our beautiful waterways. Just this month, a new report has surfaced, shedding light on how tons of a harmful toxin, used in the plastics industry, is being dumped into our rivers. Yep, that’s right! This spicy piece of news comes from an environmental watchdog group, and it’s not painting a pretty picture for our local rivers.

The Toxin in Question

According to the report, two Alpek Polyester plants, one in Moncks Corner and another in Gaston, let loose over 30,000 pounds of 1,4-dioxane in 2022 alone. This chemical isn’t just a fancy term; it’s a long-lasting, likely cancer-causing substance that has been known to linger in the environment. To make matters more alarming, while the Moncks Corner facility has closed its doors as of March 2023, the Gaston plant is still up and running, just a short drive from the stunning Congaree National Park.

Community Reactions

Bill Stangler, the Congaree Riverkeeper, called this toxic situation “unacceptable”. He voiced his concerns about how we need our state and federal leaders to finally step in and take action to protect our rivers and the nearby communities that rely on them.

A Regulatory Loophole

So, what’s the deal? According to Tom Pelton, a co-director of the Environmental Integrity Project, the regulators are missing the mark when it comes to protecting us. They say the current regulations are like a leaky bucket—federal and state agencies are often pointing fingers at each other, lodging complaints without really doing much about it. Why? Because there’s a legal loophole at play!

Under existing laws, the EPA is responsible for setting strict limits on certain harmful toxins, but when it comes to many chemicals, like 1,4-dioxane, they simply don’t have a specific limit in place. This leaves states to figure it out themselves, and unfortunately, many of them just don’t. The system is allowing big corporations to get away with using outdated equipment to dump hazardous materials into our rivers.

The Health Impact

Now, we all know that toxins in our water is a big no-no. While 1,4-dioxane isn’t exactly the notorious “forever chemical” like PFAS, scientists say it’s quite persistent and not great news for our health. It could potentially cause liver and kidney damage and raise our chances of cancer. You’d think someone would want to do something about that, right?

What Regulators Are Saying

When asked about the report, an EPA official noted that while they’re closely working with South Carolina, it’s primarily up to the state to lead the way in regulating pollutants under the Clean Water Act. The EPA does their part by giving guidelines, but there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules for 1,4-dioxane yet. That puts the onus on our Palmetto State regulators to take a stand.

State of Affairs

Citing a lack of clear accountability, Andrew Wunderly, an advocate from Charleston Waterkeeper, expressed concern over the regulations being very lenient in South Carolina. “Our permits for pollution discharges in South Carolina are incredibly weak,” he says. “We like to call these toxins ‘ghost chemicals’ because they cleverly dodge regulations.”

Calls for Action

Newly-elected S.C. Sen. Ed Sutton also chimed in, pointing out that the current scenario reflects a broader issue with weak regulation of plastic companies in our area. He called for our state to be more proactive in protecting our waters. “A slow federal response is no excuse for our state to sit on its hands,” he emphasized. “If you want to do business here, you must respect our way of life and our environment.”

Others, like Riley Egger from the Coastal Conservation League, see this as an opportunity for South Carolina to lead the charge in safeguarding our natural resources. “We can work with our communities and industries to tackle this pressing issue,” said Egger.

So, Charleston, it seems we’re at a crucial juncture. As residents who cherish our rivers and the beauty of our landscapes, it’s time to keep an eye on this issue and push for change. Let’s rally together to protect the waterways that mean so much to all of us!