Mans Worst Environmental Destruction

The Environmental Protection Agency in theproblemThe Environmental Protection Agency in
United States recently added a further 10 toxicthe United States recently added a further 10
waste sites to the 527 contaminated propertiestoxic waste sites to the 527 contaminated
which endanger life. There are around 1,060properties which endanger life. There are around
hazardous waste sites on their list, all created1,060 hazardous waste sites on their list, all
from man's use of technology.created from man's use of technology.
Toxic contamination however, is a world-wideToxic contamination however, is a world-wide
issue and not restricted to any one country. Hereissue and not restricted to any one country. Here
are just a few of the worst man-made disasters,are just a few of the worst man-made disasters,
or improve man's lot through technology.or improve man's lot through technology.
The most toxic place in the U.S.A. Picher,The most toxic place in the U.S.A. Picher,
Oklahoma, was once the world's richest lead andOklahoma, was once the world's richest lead and
zinc mining field, housing 20,000 people. Less thanzinc mining field, housing 20,000 people. Less than
25 people remain. Mountains of mining, lead25 people remain. Mountains of mining, lead
contaminated waste, loom over the town.contaminated waste, loom over the town.
The Aral Sea is nearly dry from Soviet irrigationThe Aral Sea is nearly dry from Soviet irrigation
projects. Fishing boats sit aground, rusting in aprojects. Fishing boats sit aground, rusting in a
vast, contaminated desert wasteland.vast, contaminated desert wasteland.
Guiyu, China, is the world's second-most pollutedGuiyu, China, is the world's second-most polluted
place on the planet. It is the largest e-wasteplace on the planet. It is the largest e-waste
village, where electronic trash is pulled apart byvillage, where electronic trash is pulled apart by
hand, to retrieve valuable parts and wires. Circuithand, to retrieve valuable parts and wires. Circuit
boards are burned, cooked and soaked in acid toboards are burned, cooked and soaked in acid to
extract scraps of precious metals.extract scraps of precious metals.
The Pacific Rubbish Vortex, twice the size ofThe Pacific Rubbish Vortex, twice the size of
Texas, consists of 3.5 million tons of rubbish, 90%Texas, consists of 3.5 million tons of rubbish, 90%
of which is plastic debris, swirls between Californiaof which is plastic debris, swirls between California
and Hawaii.and Hawaii.
Following gas drilling on the Indonesian island ofFollowing gas drilling on the Indonesian island of
Java, a "mud volcano" killed 13 people. Hot sulfuricJava, a "mud volcano" killed 13 people. Hot sulfuric
mud continuously gushes from the ground. Themud continuously gushes from the ground. The
steaming pool of mud covers more than 25sq ksteaming pool of mud covers more than 25sq k
and is growing at an estimated 50,000 cubicand is growing at an estimated 50,000 cubic
meters every day.meters every day.
Scientists expect the mud volcano to continueScientists expect the mud volcano to continue
erupting for another 30 years.erupting for another 30 years.
The Berkeley Pit Lake, a copper mine, is filled withThe Berkeley Pit Lake, a copper mine, is filled with
more than 40 billion gallons of acidic water andmore than 40 billion gallons of acidic water and
heavy metals. It is a hazard to migrating birds.heavy metals. It is a hazard to migrating birds.
The Chernobyl Nuclear Station exploded in 1986,The Chernobyl Nuclear Station exploded in 1986,
releasing radioactive material into the air andreleasing radioactive material into the air and
contaminating millions of square miles. Twocontaminating millions of square miles. Two
decades later, the area is a radioactive freezedecades later, the area is a radioactive freeze
frame of the old USSR.frame of the old USSR.
In 1984, the Union Carbide pesticide manufacturingIn 1984, the Union Carbide pesticide manufacturing
plant in Bhopal, India, leaked 32 tons of deadlyplant in Bhopal, India, leaked 32 tons of deadly
methyl isocyanate. Thousands were blinded,methyl isocyanate. Thousands were blinded,
deformed and disabled, while thousands died. Moredeformed and disabled, while thousands died. More
than 2,000 bodies were cremated in one day. Thethan 2,000 bodies were cremated in one day. The
water and soil close to the factory are toxic fromwater and soil close to the factory are toxic from
the still leaking plant. There has been no attemptthe still leaking plant. There has been no attempt
made to clean-up the area.made to clean-up the area.
Trying to clean up following nuclear tests in theTrying to clean up following nuclear tests in the
Marshall Islands, in the late 1970s, the U.S.Marshall Islands, in the late 1970s, the U.S.
government dug up 111,000 cubic yards ofgovernment dug up 111,000 cubic yards of
radioactive soil and deposited it on Runit Island, inradioactive soil and deposited it on Runit Island, in
a 350-foot wide crater left by the nuclear tests.a 350-foot wide crater left by the nuclear tests.
An enormous, foot-and-a-half-thick,An enormous, foot-and-a-half-thick,
100,000-square-foot dome made up of 358100,000-square-foot dome made up of 358
gigantic concrete panels, was built over the site.gigantic concrete panels, was built over the site.
The area is still radioactive.The area is still radioactive.
A Soviet drilling rig accidentally punched into aA Soviet drilling rig accidentally punched into a
massive underground natural gas cavern, in 1971,massive underground natural gas cavern, in 1971,
causing the ground to collapse and the entirecausing the ground to collapse and the entire
drilling rig to fall in. Poisonous fumes began leakingdrilling rig to fall in. Poisonous fumes began leaking
from the hole. The 328 ft. wide hole, in thefrom the hole. The 328 ft. wide hole, in the
Turkmenistan desert, has been continuously onTurkmenistan desert, has been continuously on
fire, for 38 years, since the Russians set the holefire, for 38 years, since the Russians set the hole
aflame, in order to head off a potential deadlyaflame, in order to head off a potential deadly
catastrophe.catastrophe.
Now a toxic ghost town, Australia's Wittenoom,Now a toxic ghost town, Australia's Wittenoom,
Pilbara, was once the area's largest town in thePilbara, was once the area's largest town in the
asbestos mining area. In 1966 it was officiallyasbestos mining area. In 1966 it was officially
closed down due to health concerns.closed down due to health concerns.
Centralia, Pennsylvania's underground coal fire,Centralia, Pennsylvania's underground coal fire,
ignited sometime in 1962. In 1981 a 12-year-oldignited sometime in 1962. In 1981 a 12-year-old
boy fell into a 150-foot hole that suddenlyboy fell into a 150-foot hole that suddenly
appeared in his back yard. In 1992 the entireappeared in his back yard. In 1992 the entire
town was condemned.town was condemned.
Nauru has just a 150-meter-wide strip of fertileNauru has just a 150-meter-wide strip of fertile
land left along one of its shores, after decades ofland left along one of its shores, after decades of
strip mining for phosphorus. The mining hasstrip mining for phosphorus. The mining has
devastated over 80 % of Nauru's land, leaving it adevastated over 80 % of Nauru's land, leaving it a
barren wasteland of jagged limestone pinnacles upbarren wasteland of jagged limestone pinnacles up
to 49 ft. high.to 49 ft. high.
Finally we have the Mexico Gulf oil spill which is asFinally we have the Mexico Gulf oil spill which is as
however unmeasurable. Yet man and hishowever unmeasurable.
technology are having difficulty correcting the