Love Canal

Disposal of chemical waste

Dangers of Toxic Waste

• When Karen Schroeder gave birth to her third child on November 21, 1968, the country learned about one of the worst environmental disasters in history. The Schroeder family lived beside the Love Canal chemical dump in Niagara Falls, NY. ..

Birth Defects

• …The baby, Sheri, was born with a hole in her heart, which beat irregularly. She also had bony growths blocking her nose, partial deafness, deformed ears, and a cleft palate. These birth defects inspired by her mother to research the environmental problems posed by the Love Canal.

1910

• A man named William Love wanted to create hydro-electric power near Niagara Falls by digging a ditch (canal) between the 2 rivers.

• The project ran out of money before it was completed.

• The canal was just a big hole in the ground.

Chemical Dump

• The Hooker Chemical Company began using the abandoned canal as a chemical disposal dump in the 1930’s.

• When the site was filled, it was covered over with dirt and sold to the city for $1.

• The city built a neighborhood on top of the chemical dump

Problems

• Oozing puddles of chemicals

• odors

• chemical burns

• birth defects

• cancer

• other illnesses