Toxics in Air Water and Food

 News Release
 Washington State Department of Ecology
 
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 19, 1998
 98-199
 
 Contact:  Sheryl Hutchison, Communication Director, 360-407-7004
 
 National and international experts on toxic exposure 
 to speak at symposium
 
 OLYMPIA - Eliminating toxic chemicals from the air, water and food
 chain will be the subject of a symposium being sponsored by the Washington
 State Department of Ecology on Dec. 2 in Tacoma.
 
 The symposium, entitled "Eliminating Toxic & Bioaccumulative
 Chemicals:  A Challenge to Washington State," will focus on toxic chemicals
 that are known to accumulate in animal and plant tissues.  
 
 The event will feature a keynote address by Ecology Director Tom
 Fitzsimmons, followed by state, national and international speakers who have
 studied the health and environmental effects associated with these
 chemicals.  
 
 Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Canadian
 government will talk about efforts nationally and globally to reduce
 exposure and to clean up contamination.  Also, representatives of the
 business and environmental communities will share their views and
 perspectives on the topic.
 
 Audience-comment periods will be held periodically throughout the
 day.
 
 The symposium lasts from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2,
 at the Tacoma Convention Center, 13th and Market streets, Tacoma.  
 
 To register, contact Gayla Lord at 360-407-6695.  Registration information
 also is available at the Department of Ecology's Web site:
 http://www.wa.ecy.wa.gov/eils/bcc/symposium.html 
 
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 Editors note:  News reporters are invited to attend the symposium.  Call
 Sheryl Hutchison (360-407-7004) for details.