WINDSOR, Ont.: Mercury discharges into the Detroit River are causing cancer, amount to “child abuse,” and are damaging the quality of life in this border city, said American environmentalist Robert Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy made the comments in announcing at a conference that his Riverkeepers group had launched a Canadian lawsuit against Michigan utility and Detroit Edison, over discharges from one of the company’s two power plants in Detroit.
High rates of cancer—especially of the thyroid—in Windsor could be traced to the river pollution, Kennedy said.
The lawsuit under the Canadian Fisheries Act accuses the utility of illegal discharges of mercury into the Detroit River, Kennedy said.
A spokeswoman from Detroit Edison would not comment on ongoing or pending litigation but said she was baffled to hear about the lawsuit.
Laurie Kessler said Detroit Edison was spending one billion dollars on equipment to reduce mercury emissions by 2010.
She also said the utility is working with the state of Michigan to develop legislation to achieve even further cuts to emissions.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
© 2008 The Canadian Press