Toxic%20Towns%20USA

1
Toxic Towns USA

• Zack Brown, Chelsea Hoffman, Chris La Putt, and
  Liz Sparkes

2
The Scene Rochester, New York

• Population 220,000
• Rochester Institute of Technology

3
CNS Cancer

• Double the national average.
• 119 cases in children.
• Ranked 9th suffering from pollution.

4
The Culprit KODAK

• States largest polluter
• Released 7,342,663 lbs. of carcinogens within the
  area.
• Released 544 million adult doses of dioxin per
  year.
• Major spills
• 30 tons of Methylene Chloride in a year
• 1 ton in a matter of six hours

5
Dioxin and Methylene Chloride

• Dioxin - Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins(CDDs)
• Crystals or colorless solids.
• Not intentionally manufactured other than for
  research (AKA WASTE)
• Chloracne, liver damage, increased risk of cancer
• Methylene chloride
• Colorless liquid with a mild, sweet odor.
• Does not occur naturally in the environment.
• Nausea, burning redness, increased risk of cancer

6
Whats Being Done?

• 12 million settlement with EPA for cleanup
• Refurbished waste incinerators to decrease the
  amount of dioxin in the area.
• 75 decrease in pollution.

7
The Scene Tupelo, MS

• Population 30,000
• Birthplace of Elvis
• Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey
• First TVA City

8
Liver, Kidney, CNS Damage

• Causes liver to swell
• Causes buildup of waste in kidneys
• With high levels of exposure Carbon Tetrachloride
  affects the CNS.
• May lead to liver cancer.

9
The Culprit Vitafoam Incorporated

• Also known as Olympic Corporation, Vitafoam UK,
  British Vita Cellular Foams PLC
• Foam, polyurethane, furniture making.
• Lee Countys main industry.
• 1,369 increase from 1956 of furniture
  manufacturing

10
Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4 )

• 776,732 lbs. of carcinogens released in the
  environment.
• 3 million lbs. total for companies in Tupelo
  combined.
• Moves very quickly in the air.
• Breaks down and can also destroy ozone layer.
• Can remain in the air for 30-100 years.

11
Some good news

• Activist involvement is high
• Greenpeace influence
• Montreal Protocol
• EPA regulations
• Phase out Carbon Tetrachloride

12
The Scene Elkhart, Indiana

• Population 43,000
• Amish Country!
• Dairy

13
Cancer Galore!

• The NEW Cancer Alley

14
The Culprit Foamex Corporation

• Foam, polyurethane, furniture making.
• One of Elkharts diversified manufacturing
  concerns
• Released 186,277 lbs. of methylene chloride in
  1997.

15
Methylene Chloride Acrolein

• Vitafoam!
• Acrolein
• Clear or yellow liquid
• Stinks
• Used to make other chemicals