Chromium Six--Again
Chromium Six has reared its ugly head again. Now it has been found in Ireland, specifically at a former steel plant in Cork, Ireland. The plant has been closed since 2001 after twenty years in operation stockpiling masses of toxins. In 2003, the Irish Department of Environment took over responsibility for the property. Since then, they have been inventorying the site, which is now a toxic chemical dump. Not the healthiest job to do.
Here is something I have heard before, though it was someone other than the Minister for Environment John Gormley saying it:
"People will not be exposed to any health risk because of hazardous waste at Haulbowline in Cork." He says so because someone in his office says so, according to BBC news.
The statement was in reply to one of the people subcontracted to work on the site who found toxic levels of Chromium Six.
If it isn't dangerous, why did they stop work? Why close the door if you're denying the horses are out? But apparently someone has called a stop-work order. Lucky for those subcontractors and locals whose job it is to pick thru the half a million tons of hazardous materials buried at the dump site. I hope someone is heavily insured. Not that insurance, or lawsuits, or settlements help when people are doomed to die of cancer because their very environment is killing them.
Currently, I am the President of the consulting firm, Brockovich Research & Consulting, where I am involved in numerous major environmental cases 
Comments
Hi Erin,
The steel mill was actually in operation since 1938! The risk is that some of the toxins may date back to the earlier years of its operation before environmental standards were so strict. It should also be noted that the current minister for the Environment in Ireland, John Gormley is the leader of the Irish Green Party.
Posted by: David | June 30, 2008 5:54 AM
It's a scary world! Everywhere toxins! Chemicals are making us sick and killing us! Chemical companies are just running are once beautiful land all in the name of making money! Too much progress has ruined the world. Cure for most cancers is get rid of chemicals!
Posted by: Rosemary Simo | July 1, 2008 11:51 PM
Erin,
as a resident of Cork Harbour, who lives one mile from the steel site I am very worried about all the information coming out about the toxins found on the Irish Steel Plant.Our government own the site and they don't seem to be at all concerned about the material that has blown around the Harbour.I watched the demolition of the building with my children.There was a massive explosion and an enormous plume of dust escaped into the air. Now I wonder if we were exposed to something which could cause cancer.I FIND IT VERY WORRING!
Mary
Posted by: mary | July 2, 2008 6:10 AM
chromium XI rears it's ugly head again indeed, and it just keeps on coming agin and again until we face the consequences.
here in holland for example wood is treated with a mixture of water-soluble chemical waste (including chromium XI and arsenic). it's also heavily subsidised which implies government collusion with (royally-owned) heavy industry.
from this wood, fences are built, homes are built and most frightingly even playground attributes are made of this carcinogenic wood.
it's a sad world, my friends.
Posted by: bas | August 19, 2008 11:19 AM
this way 30 million kilo's chromium XI and over 20 million kilo's of arsenic-acid have been dumped in our environment. these numbers are from 2001 (!!).
cancer is cause-of-death #1 for children aged 3 to 12 in holland.
wonder if it has something to do with those pesky playground-attributes.
in addition, when this wood is at it's life's end, it is burned in an incinerator and the poisonos fly-ash is mixed 50% with concrete. all of our roads, buildings and bridges are constructed from this highly toxic and radioactive concrete. radon-emmission is prevalent in nearly all dutch homes built after 1993.
take a look at this site if you don't believe me: http://www.aardinglg.com/aardelite-intro.html
keep in the back of your mind that ALL our waste (domestic, toxic, industrial) is incinerated and turned into toxic concrete. wonder how you guys in in the goog old US of A are dealing with this problem since this invention was introduced worldwide with the kyoto-protocols. it is a dutch invention, though.
if you would like more info on this, erin, i would be glad to give it to you. i'm with a large group of activists in holland fighting to get this madness stopped instantly. you won't believe the tricks the government is pulling to see us effectively neutralised. it's crazy.
erin, it seems that the fight against chromium has just gotten a bit larger.
want in? we could certainly use some of your expertise. you got my email.
greetings from holland.
bas.
Posted by: bas | August 25, 2008 12:26 AM
my 24 year old son worken on the site in may of this year. he was involved in digging out contaminated material. he wore no protective clothing or face mask. there was no glass in the cab of his machine. there was nowhere for him to wash his hands before he ate his lunch.He became ill in mid august. he is in hospital at this time. I and family members have spent weeks trying to find info about his condition. Just had a two day battle to get him tested for poisoning. just hope they go the extra mile for him and do comprehensive testing.
Posted by: PHYLLIS DAVIS | September 9, 2008 10:39 AM
Good morning, to every one of european citizens sufering from chromium 6 contamination and toxication from heavy metals,as we sufer in Oinofyta, viotia county, Greece. People of cork,Irelant. Holland, Belgium, and any other place suffering from Heavy Metals contamination and toxification, lets united "for our common problems, common biomatic knowledge,against polluters, pollution and E.U "non action policy"for chromium 6 in dringing water,soil contaminaded,Toxic Heavy metal's dumping e.t.c Our problem consist also of a "vacuum "in E.u. regulation and policy witch make european citizens to suffer.
Posted by: Panteloglou Athanase | October 14, 2008 12:39 AM
I can't believe this!!! This is so familar. We are having some of the same things happening and have been for years but we were told it was normal for these things to happen over time, naturally.
In the one mile area we live in there was a cluster of Brain Tumors within 100 yards of each other. Cancers of all kinds, thyroid problems, gallbladder removals and disease, all types of stomach problems, skin disorders, lung cancers, kidney disease and dialysis, ADHD & ADD, depression, diabetes and neuropathy.10 miles of Coal Mining Industry and 10 miles of Hell.
www.prenterwaterfund.org
Posted by: Maria Lambert | November 30, 2008 2:43 PM
Hello Mrs. Brockovich - Ellis,
I am a high school student who is doing a report on one of your previous cases and we need some help understanding what went on throughout that case. I was wondering if you could help us? It would be a great help and you are my inspiration!
Thank You,
Amanda Pies
Posted by: Amanda Pies | November 17, 2009 1:02 PM