Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities

Two decades ago, Democrats and Republicans together sought to protect Americans from nearly 200 dangerous chemicals in the air they breathe. That goal remains unfulfilled. Today, hundreds of communities are still exposed to the pollutants, which can cause cancer, birth defects and other serious health issues. A secret government 'watch list' underscores how much government knows about the threat – and how little it has done to address it.

Secret 'Watch List' Reveals Failure To Curb Toxic Air()  

The Continental Carbon plant sits on the southern outskirts of Ponca City, Okla. Until August, the plant was on an internal EPA "watch list," for violating rules of the Clean Air Act.

November 7, 2011 The system Congress set up 21 years ago to clean up poisonous air pollution still leaves many communities exposed to risky concentrations of benzene, formaldehyde, mercury and many other hazardous chemicals.

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Oklahoma Town Battles Powdery Carbon Pollution()  

The Continental Carbon plant sits on the southern outskirts of Ponca City, Okla. Residents blamed the plant, which produces a black dust known as carbon black, for polluting their city.

November 7, 2011 After 726 formal complaints, a union lockout, protests and lawsuits and settlements totaling about $20 million, residents in Ponca City no longer have daily struggles with carbon black.

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EPA Regulations Give Kilns Permission To Pollute()  

The Ash Grove Cement Kiln, as seen from an aerial photograph, sits on the northern edge of Chanute, Kan.

November 10, 2011 Cement plants, like Ash Grove in Chanute, Kan., burn hazardous waste for fuel, causing anxiety for nearby residents despite assurances of regulators.

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A Family's Fight To Clear The Air()  

Jeff Galemore leans on his pickup truck near the Ash Grove Cement plant in Chanute, Kan. He and his family are concerned about the toxic emissions and are fighting for independent testing downwind.

November 10, 2011 The Galemore family is taking on the Ash Grove Cement Kiln in hopes of preventing hazardous emissions from poisoning their community.

Summary

N.Y. Town Unites, Exposes Pollution-Monitoring Flaws()  

A view of the Tonawanda Coke plant in Tonawanda, N.Y. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that the factory was emitting benzene and other carcinogens at levels many times higher than the state's limit.

November 10, 2011 After residents of Tonawanda became sick, they rallied to fight high levels of hazardous chemicals emitting from a dilapidated plant. In doing so, they revealed weaknesses in the way the EPA regulates air pollution.

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EPA Takes Action On Toxic Ariz. Copper Plant()  

A haze can be seen at night hovering over the Asarco copper smelter, which turns copper ore into nearly pure copper bars.

November 17, 2011 The unpublicized "finding of violation" issued against the Asarco copper smelter in Hayden, Ariz., claims the company has been emitting illegal amounts of lead, arsenic and eight other dangerous compounds for six years. Asarco disputes that.

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Poisoned Places: About The Data()  

November 7, 2011 Details on how NPR and the Center for Public Integrity investigated the "Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities" series.

Summary

Gizmo Uses Lung Cells To Sniff Out Health Hazards In Urban Air()  

A screen grab from an animation explaining the lung gizmo.

May 31, 2013 Scientists are trying to figure out how chemicals in the air interact with each other to make people sick. So they're building an instrument — a "lung in a box" — that goes way beyond the usual chemical monitors.

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Baton Rouge's Corroded, Overpolluting Neighbor: Exxon Mobil()  

An evening view of the Exxon Mobil oil refinery complex in Baton Rouge, La.

May 30, 2013 The Standard Heights neighborhood sits next to the nation's second-largest gasoline refinery. Recently, residents learned a new truth about the plumes of exhaust they see every day: Exxon Mobil's aging refinery and petrochemical facilities — like many others — are pumping out far more pollution than the law allows.

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Breathing Easier: How Houston Is Working To Clean Up Its Air()  

The Houston Ship Channel is home to a wide range of heavy industry, including chemical processing plants and petrochemical refineries.

May 30, 2013 Intensely smoggy days are striking less often thanks to better technology that pinpoints problems, and laws that have prompted fixes. Still, scientists say they haven't yet tracked down all the sources of the pollution fouling the region's air.

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Houston's Petrochemical Industry, Source Of Jobs And Smog

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About This Investigation

The series "Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities" was reported by NPR's Elizabeth Shogren, Howard Berkes and Sandra Bartlett, together with Jim Morris, Chris Hamby, Ronnie Greene, Emma Schwartz and Kristen Lombardi from the Center for Public Integrity. Data analysis for this series was by Robert Benincasa of NPR and Elizabeth Lucas of CPI. Researchers Barbara Van Woerkom of NPR and Devorah Adler of CPI also contributed to this investigation.

Additional stories have also been done in partnership with NPR member stations and the Investigative News Network

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