Insutrial Poullution in Us

The industrial revolution impacted the United States of America drastically. No one can deny the progress made during this time period however, after some industries left the cities; they left behind a cesspool of toxic waste (Hurley). The waste left behind holds particularly true for East St. Louis, and the decades of damage upon the air, water, and soil of the city need repair. After nearly a century of industrial waste being dumped in or near the city (Colten 23), citizens became aware of the implications of these industries on their health and wellness. The factories, which surround East St. Louis, spew smoke and particulate matter into the air and may correlate to a heightened rate of asthma (Kozol 20) . This legacy of dumping industrial wastes within the city has left parts of the city with heavy metals (i.e. lead, mercury, etc.) in the soil (Kaminski and Landsberger). The lead in the soil, most of which has been removed and replaced in recent years, became a major concern of the area due to the high rates of lead poisoning in children, which has been known to cause mental handicaps (Marcus). Monsanto and Lanson Chemical Companies dumped their wastes in and around East St. Louis. Since the 1930s, Illinois has worked toward cleaning up the pollution of the East St. Louis area with limited success. The major problem in the past had been the possible displacement of jobs if Illinois asked the industries to better regulate their emissions. In recent years however, a number of issues have been addressed, including the replacement (and bioremediation) of lead-contaminated soil and the stronger regulations of an incinerator near the city. This recent clean-up of the city's environmental problems provides a hope for a brighter and safer future. The rise and fall of industry in East St. Louis showcases the necessity of holding corporations accountable for the pollution they have created. Corporations which have polluted the environment should be held liable for the cleanup of their own mess; furthermore these corporations should be held responsible for the health of the citizens that have been affected by the pollution.

The legacy of industrial pollution in East St. Louis haunts the city, ever since the industries began operating in and around the area. Although many industries operated in the vicinity during various times, Monsanto and Lanson Chemical companies produced immense amounts of industrial waste during the twentieth century. In the nearby town of Sauget, which the Monsanto Corporation founded, the Environmental Protection Agency established two Superfund Sites; a Superfund site is

...any land in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or the environment (Environmental Protection Agency).