A brief history of environmental toxicity and exposure

Love Canal, Exxon Valdez and more

I received a lot of positive feedback from yesterday’s post about exposure-acquired diseases, and a few requests to discuss the topic more.

I can’t summarize every case in American history of ecological and health disasters caused by toxic exposure, but I can highlight some of the most notable cases and how they impacted public policy.

I was also asked about what books you might read about this topic. Perhaps the most important and favorite books on this subject matter are from my mentor and advisor at Syracuse University, Mark Monmonier (Cartographies of Danger; How to Lie with Maps).

The Love Canal Site (1920’s- today)

Love Canal (New York) is as a chilling example of the health effects of toxic waste exposure. Love Canal was an abandoned chemical dumpsite that contaminated the groundwater and soil, resulting in severe health issues among residents and at least 725 deaths.

Toxic chemicals, including benzene and dioxin, led to an array of diseases such as leukemia, birth defects, and respiratory disorders. The disaster prompted the federal government to enact the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, to address hazardous waste sites.