Love CanalRisks of Chemical Waste
Dangers of Toxic Waste
• This case brought awareness of environmental issues related to chemical disposal.
• Read the articles provided by teacher
• Create a timeline of events from the article.
It started as a
dream in 1910
• A man named William Love wanted to create hydro-electric power near Niagara Falls by digging a ditch (canal) between the 2 rivers.
• The project ran out of money before it was completed.
• What was left was just a big hole in the ground.
From Dream to Nightmare
• 1920’s the canal was turned into a municipal and industrial chemical dumpsite.
• The Hooker Chemical Company began using the abandoned canal as a chemical disposal dump in the 1930’s.
• Between 1942-1953 Hooker Chemical buried 22,000 tons of chemical wastes in barrels.
1950’s -- A Good Buy?
• 1953- When the site was filled, it was covered over with dirt and sold to the city for $1.
• Late 50’s -100 homes and a school were built at the site.
1960’s The Crisis Begins
• Karen Schroeder, 2nd generation resident of the Love Canal community, gave birth to her third child on November 21, 1968.
Birth Defects• …The baby, Sheri, was born with a hole
in her heart, which beat irregularly.
• She also had bony growths blocking her nose
• partial deafness, deformed ears
• cleft palate
• mentally retarded
• 2 rows of teeth on lower jaw
• Enlarged liver
This isn’t baby Sheri but these are babies with a cleft palate.
After record amount of rainfall, leaching began.
• Corroding waste-disposal drums could be seen breaking up through the grounds of backyards.
• One entire swimming pool had been popped up from its foundation, afloat now on a small sea of chemicals.
1970’s – Nightmare
• . Trees and gardens were turning black and dying
• Puddles of noxious substances in their yards and basements and on the school grounds
• The air had a faint, choking smell. • Children returned from play with burns
on their hands and faces.
1970’s – Nightmare
Late 70’s – Getting Help• October 1976- Niagara
Gazette reports harm to humans, pets & plant life.
• EPA and county health dept began to take notice and test soil, water, air & take blood samples from residents.
1978 – More Help
• August 1st – leading story in New York Times
• State commissioner declared a state of emergency- closed school & ordered evacuation. (pregnant women and babies evacuated first)
http://distanceunreal.comxa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/lovecanal.jpg
1979 – Calling on the Law
• U.S. Rep. Al Gore (Dem-Tennessee) charges in 1979 that the tragedy had been avoidable. Publicized memo from 1958 describing burns.
• First lawsuits were filed.
Lesson Learned• Dangers of Toxic Waste
the country learned about one of the worst environmental disasters and the disastrous impact of chemicals on the environment & human health.
References
• EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/01.htm
• http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/11/dayintech_1121
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal
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