We cannot sacrifice the health of our residents

Dear Editor:

Landfills emit toxic and dangerous gases such as methane and mercury. Some of these toxic substances escape through the surrounding soil or just move upward into the atmosphere. Landfill gases that escape carry along toxic chemicals such as paint thinner, solvents, pesticides and other volatile organic compounds.

Study after study finds the dramatic increase of cancer in the population living by landfills. Studies have shown childhood leukemia and birth defects linking drinking water supplies contaminated by a landfill.

We cannot sacrifice the health of our county residents and our children for the money that would be paid to the county to have these hazardous materials put into our environment.

Waste Management Inc. ads say "mother nature will thank us." Mother Nature would be much more pleased keeping Cherokee County the beautiful and clean place it is.

I hope the councilmen will give attention to the outcome of the Gaffney Ledger poll which was almost a 5 to 1 vote against the landfill. Ellen Pauly Gaffney, SC