Attorney Ed Bell to Address Georgetown City Council On Critical Environmental Concerns

Georgetown City Council has granted a request from the Bell Legal Group to be added to the agenda for its regularly scheduled May 21 meeting. Ed Bell requested the opportunity to address council in order to present recent findings that reveal serious health risks to families living and working in Georgetown.

"In light of the recent articles that appeared in the Post & Courier and The Georgetown Times, we believe that our findings will be of particular interest to city officials," Mr. Bell said. "We appreciate the opportunity to share our research with city council."

Mr. Bell originally requested to be placed on the May agenda so that he could make a 15-minute presentation that will address serious health issues plaguing our community. He believes 15 minutes will ensure that he has adequate time to thoroughly cover the important information in his report. Currently, council has only approved a 5-minute time slot.
Citywide concerns began when a 2008 article, published in USA Today and reprinted by The Georgetown Times, titled "The Smokestack Effect," listed several Georgetown schools as having dangerously high toxic chemical levels in the air, according to EPA data. The Post and Courier reported in early April 2009 that two Georgetown plants made the list of top 10 polluters in the state, and last week The Georgetown Times released statistics from the South Carolina Department Health and Environmental Control showing that cancer cases treated in Georgetown have more than doubled over the past 10 years. Statistics from SCDHEC conclude that asthma is the leading cause of hospitalizations in Georgetown County for children under the age of 18, and that between 1996-2006, the county had the highest percentage of cancer incidence in the State.* These findings confirm ongoing research compiled for the Bell Law Firm.

A growing concern for the health and safety of the Georgetown community prompted Mr. Bell to commission an independent study by scientists and researchers from UCLA. This study consisted of on-site sampling of dust particles taken from local homes and churches, and air sampling analysis in and around the city of Georgetown. The results of this research show high levels of toxic materials that endanger the health and well-being of our citizens. One known carcinogen found was dioxin, which is among the most potent cancer promoters known to man. The levels of dioxin found in our community were equal to the levels found in schools in the Summerville, Texas community where residents and officials continue to grapple with the problem. Homes included in the Georgetown study are located throughout the heart of the downtown area including Prince Street, Front Street, Winyah, Cleland and others, where families live, work and worship. Mr. Bell believes this information, coupled with statistics from SCDHEC, cannot be ignored. "The results of our study were so alarming that we feel an obligation to inform our community," stated Mr. Bell. "I believe city officials need to make this a top priority so that we can begin working on solutions. What could be more important than ensuring a healthy future for our children?"

Mr. Bell has committed a large part of his practice to environmental issues and their impact on communities and children.

*Crude rate calculated per 100,000 population