Doug Chapman’s letter to the editor 2/25/2010 – Vancouver Sun

Re: Athletes’ village ‘greenest in North America,’ Feb. 17

I note that one of the factors taken into consideration in awarding the athletes’ village an environmental green certificate was habitat restoration.

Surely this does not include marine habitat in southeast False Creek. It is common local knowledge that every heavy rainfall event results in dangerously high E. coli levels in southeast False Creek. The area becomes a cesspool as a result of sewage discharges. Many kayakers have complained about the contamination giving them rashes on their arms.

In late December we sampled the marine sediment in the shallow waters of southeast False Creek. Lab analyses revealed dangerously high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. PCBs are banned chemical compounds that can cause skin lesions and severe liver damage. PAHs are carcinogenic, mutagenic toxins.

Should the False Creek Olympic Village community receive an environmental award when its marine habitat is contaminated with dangerous chemicals and feces?

Douglas Chapman

Fraser Riverkeeper,

Vancouver