In Colorado's Arapahoe County, residents remain troubled by a toxic chemical plume from the Lowry Landfill, a legacy of hazardous waste issues dating back to the 1970s.
Kati Weis reports for CBS News Colorado.
In short:
- Decades of chemical dumping at Lowry Landfill have resulted in an underground toxic plume, affecting nearby Arapahoe County residents.
- Despite cleanup efforts, recent studies show minimal reduction in the plume's size, with harmful chemicals still detected near residential areas.
- Local concerns persist about potential health risks and environmental impacts, including the presence of "forever chemicals" like PFAS.
Key quote:
"Kids would come in with headaches when they were outside playing, and my youngest son would go into asthma attacks and bronchial pneumonia with no fever."
— Bonnie Rader, Arapahoe County resident
Why this matters:
This ongoing environmental issue in Colorado highlights the long-term consequences of chemical pollution, posing potential health risks to residents. It underscores the importance of vigilant environmental monitoring and remediation, especially as communities continue to grow near legacy pollution sites.
Related: Pennsylvania’s first proposed hazardous waste landfill would be near homes and schools.
