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<br />of cadmium in the air ,due to smelting operations may also be linked to the <br />development of cancer. Radiation from uranium in water supplies and radon <br />gas in uranium tailings piles and from other sources have been linked to <br />the development of brain tumors and the unusual prevalence of cancers in <br />exposed populations. <br /> <br />..... <br />--1 <br />-.J <br />~ <br /> <br />Despite the evidence indicating linkages between environmental hazards and <br />human illness, the etiologic relationships are seldom simple and often <br />involve personal habits and unique occupational or other <br />"microenvironmental" factors. The need for increased monitoring and <br />investigation of possible environmentally-related human illness in <br />Colorado is paramount. <br /> <br />6. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY INCIDENTS <br /> <br />Nearly all industrial development-including the "high tech" <br />industry--requires materials with hazardous characteristics. <br />Environmental emergency incidents may involve pipeline breaks, truck and <br />rail transportation accidents, illegal dumping, and accidental releases of <br />toxic or hazardous materials from chemical and industrial facilities. <br /> <br />A total of 265 oil and hazardous materials incidents in Colorado were <br />reported to the Environmental Protection Agency in 1983. Forty-one <br />percent were associated with transportation--26% highways, 5% pipelines, <br />and 5% rSilroads, and 5% other transportation. There were no reported <br />incidents in 1983 at airports. <br /> <br />The remaining 59% occurred at the site of production, storage, <br />distribution, or use. The causes of the 1983 incidents inClude: <br />(25%); equipment failure (44%); employee error (12%); deliberate <br />(13%) and natural phenomenon (6%). <br /> <br />casualty <br />discharge <br /> <br />There have been significant improvements in the integrity of operations <br />and accident prevention capabilities of hazardous materials processors and <br />shippers in recent years. Still accidental releases into the environment <br />must, as a practical matter, continue to be'expected. The State has <br />response plans for dealing with the wide range of possible emergencies <br />that could occur. To contain these emergency situations, close <br />cooperation between owners of operations, local governments, and State and <br />Federal agencies is essential to facilitate rapid response and effective <br />action. <br /> <br />7. PESTICIDES AND TOXICS <br /> <br />Pesticides are used for a variety of purposes in both the urban and rural <br />environment. They are used extensively in agriculture, forests, <br />buildings, yards and gardens, and along rights of way. <br /> <br />Pesticides benefit the agricultural community and the general public by <br />improving the quality and quantity of crops, protecting public health, and <br />helping maintain aesthetic qualities in urban environments. The misuse of <br />pesticides may create problems such as human poisonings and contamination <br /> <br />-14- <br />