Despite extensive regulatory efforts and penalties, toxic air pollution persists in Calvert City, challenging the effectiveness of current environmental laws, according to experts.
Lisa Song reports for ProPublica.
In short:
- Calvert City has been designated a "sacrifice zone" due to high levels of carcinogenic pollutants from local petrochemical plants, despite significant U.S. Environmental Protection Agency involvement and sanctions.
- Community meetings reveal residents' frustration and the slow pace of regulatory responses to ongoing health risks.
- Recent regulatory updates and fines seem insufficient to mitigate the long-standing issue, with significant changes and actual improvements still pending.
Key quote:
“Those numbers are just appalling. How many sick kids are OK with you?”
— Carol Ziegler, a family nurse practitioner and co-founder of the Climate, Health and Energy Equity Lab at Vanderbilt University
Why this matters:
Residents living near industrial sites in Calvert City often express concerns about the health impacts of air pollution on themselves and their families. High levels of air pollutants have been linked to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues, prompting community activists to push for stricter enforcement of pollution controls.
