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Love Canal

Love Canal. Risks 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.

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Love Canal

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  1. Love Canal Risks of Chemical Waste

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. This isn’t baby Sheri but these are babies with a cleft palate.

  9. 1970’s – Nightmare 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Chemicals coming up after lots of rain.

  12. 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.

  13. 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)

  14. http://distanceunreal.comxa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/lovecanal.jpghttp://distanceunreal.comxa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/lovecanal.jpg

  15. 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.

  16. Lesson Learned • Dangers of Toxic Wastethe country learned about one of the worst environmental disasters and the disastrous impact of chemicals on the environment & human health.

  17. 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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