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 "soil contamination" ...
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Witnesses Wait
Humans have found ways to synthesize chemicals that cause terrible damage in the human body and do not decompose; they last and last. Most companies that produce these compounds locate away from people, in industrial zones. But in one neighborhood of New Orleans, an old chemical company mixed some of the most hazardous substances ever produced by man: Agent Orange, Heptachlor, Endosulfan, Dieldrin and DDT. They produced these chemicals out in the open on a small parcel of land ringed by people's homes. The wind blew the dry chemicals onto the houses, and there has been no effort to remove the soil or the risk to people who play and raise children and gardens there. Using an EPA database and Google Earth, the reporter found that there is no place more polluted with old, canned, organo-chlorine insecticides than this tiny, black, new Orleans neighborhood.
Tags: Pollution; Agent Orange; heptachlor; endosulfan; dieldrin; DDT; New Orleans; soil contamination; EPA; Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
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Danger Below
This investigation began with citizen complaints about New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation. Many of the complaints concern old toxic waste disposal sites; the agency does not make sure the contaminated groundwater and soil are completely cleaned, nor does the agency communicate with people affected by the sites. The DEC's shortcomings may have stemmed, in part, from its diminished resources and power under the administration of governor George Pataki.
Tags: environment; toxic waste; FOI; EPA; state government; pollution
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Toxic Traces Revisted
The first story in the series shows that the Minnesota Dept. of Health knew about the contaminated drinking water in the Twin Cities almost a year before releasing the information to the public. The second story reported that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency ignored the fact that perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in the soil near the 3M Company building were spilling into the Mississippi River and ground water. Last in the series, MPR News reported on how pressure from the public drove the investigation in regulating the flow of PFCs into the city's water.
Tags: contamination; Minneapolis; St. Paul; PFBA
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What's buried at Hercules?
This investigation of a Hercules Inc. chemical plant showed a history of questionable environmental practices extending back decades, including the burial of drums of chemicals in the company's landfill, an EPA report noting more than 37 acres of contaminated soil, and a host of complaints from residents who feared their health had been compromised from the smoke and chemicals. Company officials say there is no evidence toxic chemicals pose a health threat and any contamination is confined to the plant's site.
Tags: industrial pollution; environment; toxic chemicals; Environmental Protection Agency; EPA
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Poisoning of a Town
The town of Herculaneum, Missouri was built around the Doe Run plant, now the nation's largest lead smelter. Though officials say they have taken measures to limit pollution and contamination from the plant, the area still shows much higher levels of lead than normal. It affect the soil, the air, and especially the several children who live near the plant and now have too-high levels of lead inside of them. The article examines not only the legal issues, but also the conflicting feelings town residents have about their ties to the plant versus their safety.
Tags: lead poisoning; environment; health; pollution; contamination; Department of Natural Resources
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Toxic material lingers at depot
Streater's Star-Telegram article explains the contamination of soil in the surrounding areas of the Forth Worth Federal Center. The Center used to be an old Army supply depot, and stored, for over sixty years, lead, magneses ore, and additional raw materials. After looking over 5000 pages of Federal, state, and city records, the Star-Telegram uncovers a few hidden facts. The soil of a nearby preschool and playground are both contaminated. Environmental consultants warned that humans should not be in contact with contaminated areas. There is speculation of drums of buried chemical waste, including Agent Orange (circa Vietnam) somewhere in the area.
Tags: Fort Worth Federal Center; North Greenbriar; contaminated soil
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What's in your backyard?
The news team learned that several people complained the EPA never told them about toxic chemical waste contamination in their residential area. The waste was dumped near their homes or contaminated their water. Some residents eventually found out as they started to fall sick, but the EPA had known about the exposure for decades. The news team obtained the EPA database, mapped out where contaminants were concentrated and spotted the affected people. The source of contamination is traced to two steel companies. As a result, legislation is on the way, and authorities are testing soil and water.
Tags: backyard; toxic waste; chemical waste; EPA; Environmental Protection Agency; contaminants; dumping; toxic chemicals; arsenic; Health Department; contamination; pollution; drinking water; municipal water; skin rash; stomach problems; illness; potential health threat; secret; playground; pneumonia; tumor; lymphoma; pond; well water; benzene; cancer; toxin; steel warehouse; Unit 5; sludge
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The Right to Answers
The Riverfront Times reports on the contaminants found in Weldon Springs. Uranium deposits left from the 1940's have been linked to sicknesses in the area and an increasing number of infant deaths. The damage to this area started in 1941, when chemists were trying to find ways to refine uranium. "The radioactive waste eventually wound up at the Weldon Springs site." The Department of Energy has made efforts to clean up the area over the last twenty years, but they say it is impossible to pump the ground water and remove the toxins. "Instead they plan to inject chemicals to neutralize the worst. . . . The air, soil and surface water may not be perfect, but they're a damn sight cleaner than they were in '86." In addition, the article details Father Gerry Kleba and his congregation at Immaculate Conception, as they endure the deaths of more young children and unite to learn more about prevention.
Tags: radioactive waste; uranium; Department of Energy; pollutants; contamination; St. Charles County; Missouri Department of Health; National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences
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WNEM 5 Investigates: University Park
A WNEM-TV investigation reveals that a new subdivision of the City of Flint, MI, has been built on contaminated land. "The main contaminate in the soil naturally occurring arsenic, but it also could have contained Xylene." The story details how the city officials and the developers have guarded the secret for three years and have failed to inform the buyers and "contractors who were working in the dirt, including city employees." The reporters expose the lack of state laws requiring developers of new homes to disclose any potential problems.The investigation reveals that the state has warned the City of Flint not to use the soil as fill dirt, but the warning has been neglected. "...The contaminated soil has been trucked from here [Flint city] to countless other states ...".
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; housing; City of Flint; development; arsenic; soil
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Silicon Hell: High Tech's Toxic Toll
San Francisco Bay Guardian looks at the the health problems of workers in the computer industry. Reveals large computer companies are contaminating soil, air and water with hazardous chemicals.
Tags: computers; pollution; chemicals; factory workers; semi-conductors; OSHA; EPA Toxic Release Inventory Data; Hazardous Substance Database abstracts; San Jose sewage treatment plant records; brain cancer; California Health Department