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The Nation - News from June 14, 1989

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Hundreds of industrial plants and city sewage plants in 45 states are releasing toxic chemicals into public waterways and must take steps to curb the pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency reported. The EPA said chemicals released included benzene, mercury, nickel, lead, asbestos, arsenic, cyanide and dioxin. Contamination of waterways by at least some of 126 toxic chemicals was found in all but five states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Hawaii and Vermont. The largest number of polluters was found in Pennsylvania, Washington state, Wyoming and Indiana, although EPA officials said in some cases a state had more violators because of tougher state standards.

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