Galano, Gino C.

BS CH. E. 4

Envi. Engg. 10:30-11:30 MWF

May 25, 2015

The Love Canal Tragedy

The Love Canal is a project made by William T. Love in the effort of connecting the
Niagara River to Lake Ontario. With this, he envisioned producing hydro electricity from the
rivers currents but this project was never finished due to three factors: First, the Panic of 1893
which was an economic depression in the United States wherein the financing of projects were
uncertain. Second, the limitations of Direct Current (DC) regarding the transmission of power
and electricity. Third, the introduction of Alternating Current (AC) by Nikola Tesla which led to
the development of long-distance power transmission, eliminating the need to build an industry
near the electricity source. Moreover, these factors stopped investors from continuously funding
the project.
By 1942, Hooker Chemical Company was able to acquire the canal. Their main purpose
for the canal was as a dumpsite for the chemicals they produce from various processes and by
1953 they were able to fill the canal with over 20000 tons of chemical waste including pesticides
and caustic solvents. During this time there were no regulations stopping Hooker Chemical
Company from dumping their chemical waste so they covered the canal with clay and soil from
the area. With the growing population of Niagara Falls, the New York Board of Education was
looking for cheap land properties and they were able to buy the Love Canal from Hooker
Chemical Company for only a dollar, but with the deed was a precaution of the contents of the
canal. By the late 50s, a city was built adjacent to the area of the covered dump consisting of
over a hundred homes and a school. After some time, residents were complaining about a foul
odor in their basements and also about black fluid materials oozing out of their yards.

This tragedy is truly a devastating one consisting of many casualties brought upon the
residents of the Love Canal community. In this event, improper disposal and management is very
evident and the consequences have directly affected the people. One of the residents was Lois
Briggs, she was living near the Love Canal with her children. She knew that there was something
wrong in their community so she took the responsibility of starting an organization concerning
the Love Canal issue. We have to understand that the community living around the Love Canal is
of the middle class families so they cannot just get up and leave at the first signs of danger, they
had to assure that they have a place to go to. With this in mind, Lois Briggs together with the
other residents fought for their safety and were later relocated.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considered this as the one of the most
appalling tragedy in the history of America, resulting to birth defects, skin problems,
chromosomal issues, and even an increased number of white blood cells which is a precursor to
Leukemia. The effects of the tragedy had a huge impact not only on the part of the residents but
also to the government since they had to buy all of the properties from the former residents and
even relocate them to a safer place.
As we can see, the lack of proper management and disposal of these hazardous
substances can affect almost every aspect of a community or a society. The importance of proper
waste segregation and control is therefore amplified with this tragedy from the past.