The chemical Simazine, which is used in products to clean swimming pools and stop the growth of Algae is recieving calls to be made illegal. Simazine has been banned in the United States since 1994 after it showed it had links to causing cancer, but is still used in Australia. A recent report from the Australian pesticides and veterinary medicines authority claims that the amount of Simazine far exceeded the allowed daily intake from the Australian drinking water guideline health limit.
The main problem for campaigners is that the report didnt show any links between the chemical and any lasting health problems, yet supporters are still claiming that our children will suffer in later life. William Bliss, whose company Wobelea manufacturers products that contain the chemical Simazine, claim that people are over reacting. 'For arguments sake, you would have to drink all the water in an Olympic pool, say 500,000 litres, to get anywhere near a toxic dose.'
The investigation will determine if any new information has come to light reguarding the effects of the chemical, but while this is happening products containing Simazine will still be made available, which has angered campaigners. The chemical is banned in the United states and not used at all in European countries, which asks the question why are questionable swimmming pool chemicals still used in Australia? The Australian government is said to be watching events over this unfold with interest and have said they will take action if the chemical is found to be harmful.
Last month in Tasmania, there was panic in the local area after traces of this chemical and Altrazine were found in the supplies of drinking water. The amount of these chemicals found in drinking water is said to be very minute, but the point is that it should not be in drinking water at all.
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