DON'T PANIC YET

A study released today claims that more than 44 million Americans are riskingtoxic chemical poisoningbecause they live too close to manufacturing plants that spew noxious emissions. But take those claims by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and the National Environmental Law Center with a grain of salt. TIME's Andrea Dorfman reports: "All the study seems to be saying is that a lot of Americans live within the range of factories should there be an accident. What we need to know are the safety records of those companies." The Chemical Manufacturers Association says the study only focuses on worst case scenarios and ignores safeguarding procedures. The timing of the announcement, says Dorfman, likely "is part and parcel ofa plan to move constituencies to pressure their representatives on environmental issues."