According to a new report by leading air quality scientists, Houston area residents face a dangerously high risk of cancer and other chronic disease as a result of breathing toxic air pollution.

In the report's executive summary, a stunning series of tables and graphs shows that yearly levels of certain air toxics are 20 times higher than levels found in other major U.S. cities.

The report, entitled "The Control of Air Toxics: Toxicology Motivation and Houston Implications," was funded by Houston Endowment. It focuses on four air toxics: benzene, 1,3 butadiene, formaldehyde and diesel particles. It recommends that the state of Texas implement enforceable ambient standards for these pollutants.

GHASP and Mothers for Clean Air agree with this recommendation, but we are also calling on industry to take immediate action to reduce their emissions of these toxic chemicals. From our experience, we know it is both technically and economically feasible for industry to curb toxic air pollution.

Our families should not have to face this type of danger, and as a community, we can insist that our industrial neighbors clean up their act. We urge everyone who is concerned about this issue to take action.

Environmental Defense's Scorecard is a good place to start. Go to the site, enter your zip code and county, and you'll get a list of industrial facilities in the area. All facilities list an address and contact person. Some also include a fax number in the "Take Action" section.

We hope that you will use this information to send a letter or a fax to these companies and let them know that they must do more to protect public health.

Letters to your local newspaper and to your elected officials can also be effective. Thanks for getting involved, and for helping us to work for cleaner air in Houston.