According to an article posted in The Allentown Morning Call dated Sept. 29, 2022, the Lehigh River Watershed has more toxic pollution than almost anywhere else in the country.
Source: Shuvaev, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The article, written by Grayson Golder, claims that the Lehigh River watershed ranked 13th and toxicity and 30th in total cancer-causing chemicals according to the report released by the non-profit Penn Environment Research and Policy Center.
According to the report, the Lehigh River Watershed received 9,600 lbs. of toxic chemicals that could affect human life, particularly children.
Overall, 193.6 million pounds of toxic substances were released into U.S. waterways in 2020.
PennEnvironment Field Director Flora Cardoni said she has tubed in the Lehigh River in the summer and is “personally disturbed” by the outcome of this report.
“Pennsylvania’s waterways shouldn’t be polluters’ dumping grounds,” she said.
“I’m shocked by it and disappointed to hear that it is as bad as it is,” said Matt MacConnell, who has been the Chair of the Sierra Club Lehigh Valley for more than a decade.
According to an article on the WFMZ website, MacConnell has been regularly testing area waterways. “We know people are dumping things in the water but unless you kill fish you can’t get anyone’s attention,” he said.
The report pointed to Holcim Whitehall Plant, a cement manufacturer, ranking first in the state for toxic releases and 15th nationally.
The company is in the process of reviewing the data.
Pennsylvania ranks third behind Texas and Indiana and the amount of chemicals affecting reproductive health.
“These high volumes stand in stark contrast to the Clean Water Act’s stated objective of eliminating direct discharges of pollution by 1985,” the report stated.
The report concludes “To end this toxic threat to America’s waterways, our nation should systematically reduce the use of toxic chemicals, and the EPA should update pollution control standards to effectively eliminate their direct release into our waterways wherever possible. More broadly, the federal government should ensure that rules and enforcement pursuant to the Clean Water Act are commensurate with its goals.”
“Pennsylvania’s waterways shouldn’t be polluters’ dumping grounds…” Agreed. The dismissive attitude by the people who live in the United States in general and who live in the state of Pennsylvania in particularly needs to change. Water is essential to human life and we already are finding trace levels of antidepressants in our water supplies, along with microplastics.
What gets put into our water gets put into us. But the constant pursuit of money puts us in a tug-of-war between industry and human health. I hope sustainability becomes a real conversation soon.
My Writing Wanderland 