1891 Picher lead poisoning
Picher is now known as the "most toxic place in America," as said by the EPA. Beginning in 1891 and continuing until about the 1970s, mining was rampant in Picher, Oklahoma. Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri alone produced most of the lead for US bullets in both the world wars. Its esimated that about 1. million tons of lead was generated from these areas - which also produce a large quantity of contaminated waste. This waste then contaminated groundwater for the city of Picher. A number of health issues have arisen in the area, and Picher is now mostly abandoned. A test of the soil showed that the level of metals in the yard soil alone were eight to then times higher than normal. In the 1990s, a report showed that at least a third of the towns children had elevated levels of lead in their systems. Resident realized that the issues their children were having were because of the pollutants, and not because of another factor.
A mountain of "chat," a waste produced from mining.
"The chat piles were are friends" a resident, Kimberly Pace, told the New York Times. Children would use these piles and sled down them, and adults would use the sand in children's sandboxes or even in the foundations of their homes.
"The chat piles were are friends" a resident, Kimberly Pace, told the New York Times. Children would use these piles and sled down them, and adults would use the sand in children's sandboxes or even in the foundations of their homes.
Photo by John Barnett 5/30/11
An abandoned building in Picher.
Picture Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120804/Wiped-map-Once-thriving-mining-town-verge-demolished-federal-government-mining-created-toxic-land-acid-water-sink-hole.html