Staying Safe in a Toxic World
Storybook Farm’s Backyard
This year my husband Julius and I celebrated our 40th wed- ding anniversary. Julius has a medical condition that causes severe cramping of his muscles, especially in his legs. He is often
in pain and there are times when he cannot walk. The doctors do not know what the condition is or why he is having these symptoms. We wonder if our environment is to blame. This is a sad situa- tion, but it does make us grateful for each day we are together.
Share the Test Results
What statements should Beverly make when she talks about her soil test results?
Pollutants Found in Three Soil Samples in Storybook Farm’s Yard
Chemical Name
Sample A
Chromium 43.3 Lead
23.7
Sample B
86.6 23.2
Sample C
40.6 Zinc 181.0 30.1 258.0
Typical US Level in soils
40.00
14.5 10.00 50.00
1. On average, zinc levels are _________.
2. Sample C of zinc is _______ times higher than typical U.S. soil.
3. The lead levels look lower than the others, but Samples A and B are still about ______ times higher than typical.
exposed to the highest level. To learn more about the dangers of exposure to chemicals, check <
www.atsdr.cdc.gov>.
Our Neighbor: A Toxic Polluter
Our family was settled in our home and our child care business, A Storybook Farm, was in opera- tion for over ten years when a galvanizing plant opened next door to us. We received no warning about the galva- nizing plant, even though this pollut- ing industry ad- joins our property. Galvanizing
plants operate with almost no pollu- tion controls. Their tanks of hot metal, acid, and caustic chemicals are open to the atmosphere. Galvanizing con-
Before this polluting industry showed up in our backyard, we never gave much thought to clean air and water or our peaceful neighborhood. We took it all for granted.
taminants include lead, zinc, chromium, and par- ticulates. Our soil shows elevated levels of these pollutants. Our daughters and grandchildren are showing signs of the same condition that torments my husband. They were all raised or spent much of their childhood right here in our home beside the galvanizing plant.
We Used to Take Clean Air for Granted
After many complaints by our family and others in the community, the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NC-DAQ) set up air quality testing equipment to monitor the galvanizing emissions. The results of the air testing were “inconclusive.” Before this polluting industry showed up in our backyard, we never gave much thought to clean air and water or our peaceful neighborhood. We took it all for granted. We were not active in environmental work or volunteer work except through our church. We didn’t pay much atten-
16 The Change Agent — March 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56