- Michael Ash
Michael Ash, UMass Amherst economics professor, was recently interviewed by The Real News Network about his work as the co-director of the Corporate Toxics Information Project at the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI). According to Ash, about 4.5 billion pounds of toxic chemicals into the environment every year from US-based corporations. Top offenders include Bayer Corporation and Exxon Mobil. The Top 100 Toxic Air Polluters list, published yearly, is a reminder of this constant amount of pollution. Additionally, this lists also assesses the substantial disparity in exposure to these toxics. For example, almost two-thirds of Exxon Mobil’s toxic burden falls on people who are nonwhite, and about a quarter of their toxic burden falls on people living below the poverty line. (Therealnews.com, 6/17/10)