4 of 5 in Poll Believe Pollution Threatens Quality of U.S. Life

Four in five Americans say pollution threatens the quality of their lives, and most favor a tough counteroffensive that would ban disposable diapers and cancer-causing pesticides, a poll has found.

Respondents to the national Media General-Associated Press survey favored an array of tough new restrictions, including bans on foam plastic fast-food containers and excessive packaging of consumer products.

Of those who live in neighborhoods where recycling is not mandatory, 9 in 10 said they would support such a rule. And nearly 7 in 10 supported creation of an elected statewide official to enforce environmental law.

The notion of a state environmental sheriff will come before California voters in November in a referendum dubbed “Big Green.” Other steps in that measure also won wide backing in the survey.

For example, the California measure would ban 19 widely used pesticides that cause cancer in laboratory animals; such a move was favored by 70% in the survey, “even if the risk to humans is very slight.”

“Big Green” calls for a fee on oil shipping to fund spill prevention and cleanup; in the poll 80% supported such an effort, even if it raised oil prices. A separate proposal in California would restrict woodcutting in old forests; in the poll, 61% backed a ban on such timbering.

Three in four respondents said anti-pollution laws are too weak, and about as many gave local, state and federal government negative marks for protecting the environment.

Those numbers were essentially unchanged from a poll a year ago that asked the same questions. The new survey, conducted by telephone May 11-20 among a random sample of 1,143 adults, has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

Strong support continued for air pollution measures that have been suggested in California, including strict emission controls.