https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9 en-us 2018-02-28 03:19:06 UTC 2023-02-18 16:00:39 UTC hello@padlet.com lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236243355 The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded due to natural gas entering the concrete core of the rig, causing oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion killed 11 people and injured 17. Efforts and precautions used to stop oil from seeping into the water failed and millions of gallons of oil entered the water. Bacteria dispersants were released into the water to eat away at the oil as well as manual efforts were deployed to fix the spill. Environmental effects of the spill resulted in fishing waters being closed due to contamination, leaving many in financial ruin. BP oil plead guilty to 14 legal charges against them due to the company’s negligence. The spill killed many populations of birds, sea turtles, and dolphins, and it is believed that about 800,000 birds died as a result. Coral reefs within the vicinity were distressed, but not destroyed. 

]]> 2018-02-28 03:19:58 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236243355 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236243634 An oil ship hit a coral reef and spilled gallons of crude oil into the surrounding waters due to an intoxicated captain driving the ship. Exxon failed to deploy cleaning mechanisms in the first crucial hours after the spill. 
High pressure water was used for cleanup efforts, which harmed the microbial populations in the water. About 250,000 birds were killed because of the spill as well as many ocean mammals. By 2010 there were still 23,000 gallons of oil in the water due to the Valdez Tanker. Alaska also suffered loss of tourism, and a loss of fisheries and recreational sports that created revenue for many people. ]]> 2018-02-28 03:21:48 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236243634 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236243792 Water used by families and personal at the Marine Corps Base was contaminated with toxins for over 30 years. The main chemicals found in the water were perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene. The toxins likely came from an off base dry cleaning company or leaks from underground fuel tanks. Those who consumed and used the water reported cancer, leukemia, birth defects in children, and miscarriages due to the water. Many individual lawsuits were filed against the US government due to their ignorance of the contaminated water. The Janey Ensminger Act was passed as a result of the contamination, and this act provided medical care to many of the people involved with the Marine Base and the contaminated water. 

]]> 2018-02-28 03:22:53 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236243792 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244001 EPA contractors broke a plug holding water trapped inside a mine on the Animas River watershed while trying to drain water near the mines entrance. This released waste water and tailing into the river which included harmful chemicals such as arsenic, zinc, iron, and other metals. The Animas River was closed due to contamination and the public was warned to test their water. This created many problems for those who needed the river for their livelihood, such as farmers. The EPA built a water treatment plant in order to prevent further disasters like this one. 

]]> 2018-02-28 03:24:18 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244001 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244164 The Hooker Chemical Company was given permission to dump its hazardous waste in the Love Canal in Niagra Falls, which was then drained and covered with sediments to mask the waste. In the 1950s population in the town was growing and a school was built on top of the drained canal. Sewers for commercial and family use were constructed in the canal bed which broke the protective layer of sediments, releasing chemical waste into the water supply. Benzene and choloroform were found in high doses in the water being used. People who consumed the water were tested for high white blood cell count which can lead to leukemia, as well as chromosome damage. The government eventually relocated many families on the Love Canal land. 

]]> 2018-02-28 03:25:22 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244164 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244333 A chromium additive was added to compression stations in order to prevent rust, which was later dumped in the deserts next to the station. 370 million gallons of toxic water were dumped into surrounding ponds and water sources used by the population. Chromium leaked into the water supply used by people in the area as well as the soil which could lead to cancer. Pacific gas and electric spent $750 million on cleanup efforts in 2013. ]]> 2018-02-28 03:26:30 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244333 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244504 The Cuyahoga river was polluted with debris from industrial buildings nearby. Scraps of slick oil caught on fire when a train ran close by and caused $50,000 in damage. 
The fire destroyed a nearby bridge but no deaths were reported. This incident sparked the creation of the National Environment Policy Act to prevent rivers such as the Cuyahoga from being polluted enough to cause a fire. ]]> 2018-02-28 03:27:35 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244504 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244646 Groundwater pumped from wells contained organic chemicals that were consumed by the populations. Contaminated water led to cases of leukemia and cancer and many lawsuits were filed against the corporations in control of the water supply]]> 2018-02-28 03:28:28 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236244646 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245073 Crude MCHM, used for cleaning coal, leaked from a facility tank in West Virginia. 7,500 gallons of the chemical spilled into the surrounding land and into Elk River. Residents in the surrounding areas were advised not to use their tap water for any services. Over 700 people went to the hospital or called poison control for illnesses relating to the usage of the contaminated water supply. The government responded by distributing bottled water to residents. For the cleanup effort, water was flushed through the river to wash out the chemicals]]> 2018-02-28 03:31:48 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245073 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245199 The Howard Avenue Water Purification Plant in Milwaukee was contaminated due to either runoff from pastures or melted ice. The water was contaminated with cryptosporidium. Over 1.6 million people who consumed/ used the water reported illness dealing with nausea, diarehha, fever, and dehydration. Of the 1.6 million, at least 104 people died due to the contamination. Since the incident, Milwaukee Water Works has invested $417 million to prevent events such as this and ensure high quality water. ]]> 2018-02-28 03:32:42 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245199 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245311 The Allen Steam Station coal power plant polluted local well water in North Caroline. Coal ash with high levels of heavy metals contaminated local water sources with arsenic and selenium. The contamination has been found to spread into the surrounding environments in the area, destroying aquatic life and posing a threat to humans who consume the water. Little is being done to have the company take responsibility for the pollution problem. ]]> 2018-02-28 03:33:36 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245311 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245444 A dead zone spanning almost 9,000 miles exists in the Gulf of Mexico where the deoxygenated water can kill aquatic life. The dead zone is likely a result of nutrient pollution from runoff which has lead to algal growth and deoxygenation of the water. 
The dead zone has caused fish and shrimp populations to plummet, and fishermen struggle with fluctuating economics in shrimp fishery. Steps are being taken to stop more pollution and prevent runoff from farmers via the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast. ]]> 2018-02-28 03:34:33 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245444 lbusche5561 https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245578 General Electric company dumped 1.3 million pounds of PCBs into the Hudson River from their manufacturing plants. High levels of mercury were found in fish in the Hudson River as well. 
The PCBs caused evolutionary changes in fish species within the water. Fishing within the river was banned due to the contaminated water and health concerns which harmed fishing companies. Those who consumed water or fish who consumed the water could have illnesses relating to neurological disorders, memory problems, ADHS, heart disease, and diabetes. The Clean Water Act of 1972 helped make efforts to clean the river. ]]> 2018-02-28 03:35:23 UTC https://padlet.com/lbusche5561/wgk55qyqywo9/wish/236245578