The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "byproduct" ...
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"130 Million Tons of Waste"
When coal is burned for electricity, it produces a byproduct called coal ash. "Every year, 130 million tons" of the ash is produced. It's "one of the largest waste-streams in the U.S.," and currently, there is little to no federal oversight. This report focuses on two major coal ash spills have occurred in the U.S. One of the spills caused "two communities to lose access to clean drinking water."
Tags: Coal ash; burning coal; toxic waste; Chesapeake; Kingston; EPA; Coal and Utilities
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The Body Toxic
Baker writes about the "dizzying array of chemical contaminants, the by-products of modern industry and innovation that contribute to a host of developmental deficits and health problems that are just now being understood."
Tags: toxins; health; poison; well-being; health problems; chemical poisoning; chemical pollutants; biomonitoring; FDA; EPA
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Biosludge
This story explores whether any health risks exist from the spreading of biosludge on farmland. People in the Green Bay, Ala., area complained that the biosludge, the solid byproduct from sewage treatment plants, was making them sick. Scientists say the practice, while legal, merits further study. Calling the situation a developing public health problem, a former microbiologist with the EPA says biosludge needs to be treated to remove all of the pathogens and not just some of the pathogens as present practices allow.
Tags: biosludge; byproduct; solid waste; sewage; sewage treatment
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The Chlorine Controversy
Technology Review reports on critics of chlorine, who say that chlorinated pesticides, solvents, plastics and water may be harming people and the environment. Chlorine is used in about 15,000 products, with an estimated $71 billion in annual sales, the review reports. Because chlorine by-products breakdown very slowly, they linger in the environment for years. The controversy continues to rage through legislatures and corporate boardrooms.
Tags: chlorine; cancer; environment
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Ward Valley backers say Garamendi abused post; Garamendi is known to take the gloves off; GAO hits holdup on Ward Valley; Nuclear waste dump seen as less risky now; Nuclear dump 'fact' file assailed
This series of stories examines that although universities and hospitals have no inexpensive way to dispose of radioactive by-products, an effort to build a dump to store the low-level nuclear waste had taken nearly three-decades to do so in California's Mojave Desert. Federal law had required southwestern states to build a dump.
Tags: nuclear waste; dumps; California
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No title (id: 13159)
When soil at an old cannery building began to smolder, investigators learned that decomposing cannery byproducts buried in the soil, like peach and apricot pits and asparagus ends, had produced flammable, toxic chemicals, including hydrogen cyanide and methane. The Ledger Dispatch examines the environmental and financial risks involved in the situation. (August 6, 1995)
Tags: Weiser Cannery of worms Pollution Developement U.S. Housing Corp. 12 pgs.
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No title (id: 6507)
WBUR-FM (Boston) examines military testing of electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a byproduct of nuclear explosions that can render defense systems worthless; to test ships--and possibly humans--against the effects of EMP, the Pentagon ordered an EMP simulator; the report presents evidence of the dangers testing EMP poses to wildlife, humans, and the enviroment, and alleges the military ignored such evidence; Jan. 14, 1989.
Tags: None