Love Canal

Dekker Smith

Public Health 100

Love Canal Essay

                Few events in Public Health are more vivid than what happened in Love Canal, New York years ago. There have been many lesson learned from this man made environmental disaster, and it has taught Americans how choices can have long lasting effects upon future generations. There are many areas in the U.S. that pose a potential threat. The Umatilla Chemical Depot in Hermiston Oregon poses potential problems. In years to come scientists will learn more of the effects of the Umatilla Chemical Depot. Disasters happen on a daily basis, but with correct preparation and prevention these can be mitigated. As I studied and searched for information, I came to the realization that indeed there are environmental disasters often in the world but moreover, I came to understand that the magnitude of these disasters has the potential to match or be even more intense than the Love Canal.

                The Umatilla Chemical Depot has been functioning since 1941 and on October 5^th, 2011 finished burning the chemical weapons stored there from the U.S. Government. This Chemical Depot is 1 of 8 in the U.S. and at one time housed 12% of the country’s chemical weapons. The 19,728-acre depot held 7.4 million pounds of lethal Cold War-era chemical weapons. The Umatilla Chemical Depot (UCD) even held chemical weapons never unleashed by the U.S. in war and that are not known to many countries, namely a chemical substance that could be sprayed like a pesticide over the battlefield. The UCD started the destruction of chemical weapons in 2004, which brought much protest from residence.

                These facts alone should be enough to rattle a persons’ sense of security. Although there have been no major outbreaks or problems in this area as of yet, it is still a threat to people in the area. The Love Canal tragedy caused tragic problems to unknowing people. There were no preventive measures taken to protect the people or to curb the problems that spawned from this event. When precautions are taken disasters can be diverted or limited. The sheer volume of the chemical weapons at UCD could have killed tens of millions of people. One non-chemical accident at UCD shattered glass 25 miles away and killed 6 people.

                The UCD suffered many leakages from these old weapons that were stored in the ground. Fines up to 1 million dollars have been issued for misconduct. Even now, when destruction of these weapons is complete there are irreversible effects of these leaks, and burning of these materials.  Tons of chemically contaminated land in sand pits called “wash out lagoons” are used to settle out 80 million gallons of “pink water” contaminated with high explosives. The U.S Government gave this area a permanent industrial status, not suitable for residential use. Some of the reasons for this are the wastewater byproducts contaminated with amounts of ammonia, nitrates and various pollutants.

                During the time of the destruction of these chemicals (VX nerve agent, mustard gas, chemical rockets, sarin) the government took many precautions to prevent problems among the public. Schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other buildings were retrofitted for pressurized ventilations systems to keep gas out. The UCD launched aggressive public education, called community meetings, held school presentations, and educated the public about how to stay safe in their homes. The army has spent over 42 million dollars in preventative measures around the area and close to a billion dollars for on-site preventative measures. Emergency sirens, electronic highway signs, and radios were placed in 18,000 households to protect the community. All this was overseen by The Oregon Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program.

                Due to the preventative measures followed there was no direct “environmental disaster”.  However tests are still being administered for air and water quality. People still worry about what effect 60 year old leaking chemical weapons will have on the environment and people over time. If water or air is found with chemicals in them, there would be brutal consequences. It was said of one agent held there, that one-tenth of a drop would kill a man in ten minutes. There was 3,700 tons of this agent held at one time. After investigating this event, I can see how this situation is a pressing matter today for us and our safety. Honestly I was not aware that such problems as the Love Canal or the UCD existed today. After reading and trying to understand the preventive measures followed at the UCD it was clear to me that people can mitigate these problems. By understanding that our choices affect people years in the future, we can prevent disasters like the Love Canal Tragedy or pending issues like the effects from the UCD.