The Love Canal neighbourhood of Niagara Falls, New York, that was contaminated by Hooker Chemical without the knowledge of the local citizens has strong background information that depicts much of what happened. It is also regarded as the site of an infamous disaster that is superfund and that affected hundreds of residents. At the beginning, it was regarded as a dream community, it is also documented that it experienced growth as a section of modelling for almost a century. In the early 1940’s, the area started declining, slowly by slowly until it was bought out by Hooker Company. It is taken in record that in the late 1970s, Love Canal received an attention that was viewed from a national perspective, for ensuing health development that had its origin from the disposal of about 22, 000 barrels of toxic wastes (Blum
...2008). After very serious examination, it was found out that these toxic wastes had a close relationship with those of Hooker Chemical Company. A team of experts from both the subject company and also those of the government were invited to come and make a final examination on what would have been the ultimate cause of the contamination. It was after the two mentioned groups concluded their analysis that the ultimate cause of the contamination came out clear to have originated from Hooker Chemical Company.
Other than the already mentioned background on contamination, there was also the effect that the subject posted on human health. In the first studies that were conducted by scientists, it was observed that it did not conclusively make an approval that the chemical in question that caused contamination had a numbe
of health effects. Scientists went ahead in carrying out their research and finally it was concluded that indeed it had serious health effects and the first observation was termed as vague. Some of the serious health effects that were noticed were on the high count of white blood cells which is an indication of cancer of the blood or rather leukaemia (Blum 2008). There was also the chromosome damage in Love Canal Residents; this was estimated from statistical analysis to be 33% of the total residents in the area of contamination. Apart from the above mentioned, there were also other health implications that threatened everyone in the world and even created an international awareness.
Other than the mentioned on human health, there is also that on environment, the environmental health was highly contaminated with much toxic substances from Hooker Company. A number of environmental organisms also suffered at a greater extent and it was noted that their survival curve went down speedily. It was out of this aspect that a number of remediation programs came up; some of the residential areas on the east and west sides of Canal were greatly demolished, and all that was left on the west sides of were termed as abandoned residential streets. This was the first remediation program to have been opted for as far as the subject is concerned. In the month of June, in 1980, another remediation program by the name the Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency (LCARA) was also founded to bring a restoration to the area in question. The area that was seen to be north of the Love Canal was later renamed as Black Creek
Village. LCARA wanted to sell again at least 300 homes that had been bought by New York when the main residents had to seek other areas of settlement. The homes that were used as relocation areas were deemed to be very far away from where the chemicals were already dumped. As a way of conclusion on remediation; the most toxic area which was estimated to be at least 16 acres was reburied with a plastic liner that was very thick and assumed a clay view and dirt.
Nevertheless, the current state of The Love Canal of Niagara Falls can be argued to be better than how it was it was in the beginning. At the time of closure, Niagara Falls was gazetted to be entering into a period of an economic boom and its population began to expand steadily. The population increase in respect to the steady growth was given an estimate of not less than 85,000 people. This created a need for the construction of a new school and a number of attempts to purchase various properties for a number of reasons (Blum 2008). The current state of the Love Canal has furnished structures that are fully furnished and offers quality storage to the necessary equipments. It has got also a quality dumping sites that are well made to accommodate the required toxic wastes. Other than that, the subject also has a well-drained channel that is lined with thick clay for the purpose of proper operation.
The Love Canal was also faced with a number of regulations due to its existence. Some of the regulations were that the residents were to evacuate their areas to other
better places. This was to enable those concerned to clear out contaminations in the contaminated areas. Another regulation was for the Hooker Company to ensure proper disposal of its toxic wastes so that the rate of contamination can be minimized.
In conclusion, in my own perspective, the same can still be handled especially in countries where regulatory policies are weaker by educating citizens on the harm that toxic chemicals have on their life. This will enable both parties (the company’s concerned and the citizens) to play a role of adherence to education.
References
- Blum, E. D. (2008). Love Canal revisited: Race, class, and gender in environmental activism. Lawrence, Kan: University Press of Kansas.
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