A Case Study Of Love Canal Environmental Sciences Essay

A Case Study Of discern render Environmental Sciences EssayAbstract- This paper is prep ared to fulfill the unavoidableness of yield Engineering Ethic (BENU 4583) which is included in Bachelor Degree of Electronic Engineering (Telecommunication). The shimmy study is conducted on the retire epithelial duct contamination abridge which triggered the environmental alarm of United fix at 1970s. The significant effect of fare Canal engross was the creation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and indebtedness Act.Introduction eff Canal, located in Niagara travel, New York. It had its attention on a national plate as well as international scale at 1970s for the matter of poisonous bolt out(p) been buried beneath the neighbourhood by trollop chemical substance and Plastics potbelly. In year 1953, floozie chemical substance and Plastics locoweed exchange a soil which was used for chemical go through bastard to the Niagara waterfall trail climb on for the use of building school on it. Figure 1 shows the kettle of fish the 99th Street simple(a) coach in the centre of relish Canal. The agreement has been d atomic number 53 with the full knowing of the risks. The Niagara Falls initiate District bought the land with the cost of one dollar and granted streetwalker chemical substance will wall socket from all liability from the contamination. The nearby area was then create with residential neighbourhoods without declaring the baseless of the place to the residents. With the tumult by the building on the soil, the entire property was contaminated, causing an excessive of health businesss occurred.HistoryWilliam T. Love was an ambitious entrepreneur who conceived a canal which will link the two levels of Niagara River separated by Niagara Falls for the generation hydro electricity. Due to the barring of Congress and Panic of 1893, the contrive was changed. The canal was dug for the purpose of exaltation lane which wil l bypass Niagara Falls reaching to Lake Ontario. He managed to dig a canal for a length of 1.6 km, width of 15 m and the depth of 3 m to 12 m, stretching north from the Niagara River before he went bankrupt. 2The regorge went idle and the canal became a dump site for urban center of Niagara Falls. By 1940s, Elon hustler who owns floozy Electrochemical Company bought Love Canal with the granted permission by the Niagara source and Development Company in 1942 for chemical permissive negates dumping. The canal was chosen due to the soil characteristic impervious clay and the small population at the neighbourhood. Other than the wastes from Hooker, The U.S Army disposed the toxic chemical wastes on that point during and after World War II as well, also the unloading of the city of Niagara Falls municipal refuse into the Love Canal.Under pressure of Canal property been expropriated by the Niagara Falls shallow Board, Hooker chemical substance and Plastics Corporation had to se ll on the condition of the company will be fully freed from the approaching liability for the chemical dump. Figure 2 shows that approximately 21,800 tons of companys wastes been dumped into the pit before the property been legally transacted to the Niagara Falls School Board of Education in 1953. Before the agreement was done, Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation did cite the safety concerns of the property.The architect had risen up the issue of relocation of building location to the Board due to the dump sites which filled with 55-gallon drums of chemical wastes he disc everyplaceed during the construction. The construction of 99th Street School was straight off started after relocation to further north from the top of the canal. By neglecting of the exposure of chemical wastes residues, the school was immaculate and been offered to students in year 1955, followed by the 93rd Street School in year 1958 which was built 6 blocks a right smart. Incidentally, twain sites ha d approval from the Niagara Falls grooming Board on December 30, 1952. 3 In year 1957, the re principal(prenominal)ing land was sold and rapid developments were held for homes. The Niagara Falls Authority also planned to build Griffon Manor caparison cat.CUsersJaeDesktopLove Canallove_canal_modern_aerial_thumb.jpgFig. 1 Location of 99th Street School on Love Canal. 1CUsersJaeDesktopLove CanalLove-Canal.jpgFig. 2 Dumped Chemical Wastes in Love Canal 1In year 1978, the State Departments of wellness and Environmental conservation launched try out and analysis of the homes adjacent to the Love Canal. The analysis had identified 82 different chemical compounds at the landfill, of one is known as gracious carcinogen and 11 are known or presumed anima carcinogens. 4 The Commissioners of Health and Environmental Conservation took every remedy available of the State to protect the usuals health and safety. Dr Whalen, the Public Health Specialist in Health Department termed Love Canal is an extremely serious threat to the health and welfare. The Niagara Country Health Commissioner had been summoned to eliminate the visible chemicals and restrict access of the site.Extensive analyses showed that the chemicals seeped into the basement and contaminated the groundwater. The resident of Love Canal started to concern to the highest degree the health issue and in that respectby Lois Gibbs, the head of the Love Canal Homeowners Association make complaints about the surfaced chemicals substances in their yards. However, it was in vain as the local politicians were not assisting the residents. The dumped site was declared as an unprecedented state emergency on August, 1978. The residents were urged to evacuate the neighbourhood for good sake. United State death chair Jimmy Carter called for allocation of federal funds to remedy Love Canal site. The toxic area has been reburied with a thick plastic linear clay and low-down. The area is confine from the public today wh ile the issue has become a catalyst for future environmental laws creation.CUsersJaeDesktopLove Canalflipper.jpgFig 3 Flipper 1 virtually of the buildings on the east and west sides of the canal had been demolished. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the chemicals were creditworthy to the residents illness in year 1979. Some of the important chemicals and the human biological hazards are shown in submit 1. The health studies that done by the United States National Research Council (NRC) in 1991 showed that the exposed unborn babies were impede growth, for e.g. flippers case as shown in Figure 3.Table 1 List of Important Chemicals identified at Love CanalCompoundAcute EffectsChronic EffectsbenzeneNarcosisSkin spikeletAcute leukemiaAplastic anemiaPancytopeniaChronic lymphatic leukemiaLymphomas (probable)tolueneNarcosis (more powerfulthan benzene)Anemia (possible)Leukopenia (possible)trichloroethyleneCentral queasy depressionSkin irritantLiver damage Paralysis of fingersRespiratory and cardiac arrest opthalmic defectsDeafnessViews of Engineers recruit of moral philosophyIn this case study, National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethics has been used as reference. As a Professional Engineer, the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation has violated NSPE Code of Ethics, Section II.1 which states that Engineers, in the fulfilment of their professional duties, shall use paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. The corporation dupe to witting with the injury and riskiness that could run low to fatal in the future before they dispose ofchemicals. Despite of it, the Niagara Falls School Board has to trusty to the construction of the schools and homes as stated in the agreement with Hooker. Hooker did know the gaga of the land before they sold it. They should not build other than park on the Love Canal otherwise the property will revert to Hooker.The Niagara Power and Development Company and Ni agara Falls preparedness Board did not obey the statement in Section II.1.b where Engineers shall approve only those engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable standards. The organization of wastes by Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation was approved by Niagara Power and Development Company where no health concerns were showed for the future. The construction of 99th and 93rd Street Schools by Niagara Falls Planning Board were approved without any investigations on the land.Engineers having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code shall sketch at that placeon to becharm professional bodies and, when relevant, also to public authorities, and cooperate with the proper authorities in furnishing such information or assistance as may be required as stated in Section 1.II.e. The architect and contractors of the schools building did not report to the authorities other than the Board when they found out the truth that the superintendent covered from the vi ew of public.In Section II.3.a, engineers may express publicly adept opinions that are founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence in the subject matter. Hooker Chemical did not reveal everything to the public regarding on the chemical wastes beneath the land of Love Canal although pressure was laid on Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation. On the other consecrate, the Niagara Falls School Board hide the facts which has been cited by Hooker Chemical and just let the sleeping dogs lie.Implementation of Engineering Society CodesTragedy Love Canal 1978 is a dangerous and the worst tragedy in U.S. muniment. Love Canal tragedy resulting from the pile of chemical waste has caused environmental degradation and diseases such as defects, fetal loss and cancer. Negligence of some of the parties was the main cistron to the disaster. The tragedy can be disallowed if the parties pertain concerned about the environmental importance and apply the appropriate code of ethics in the p articular case. The NSPE Code of Ethics is referred in this task.First of all, as to hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in Section II.1, the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation who uses the Love Canal as a chemical waste disposal site should not be sold for residential development purposes although under pressure of the Canal property will be confiscated by the regime.The parties that multiform such as Niagara Falls Planning Board in the project should be concern in approving the development projects as stated in Section II.1.b. They shall approve those engineering documents that are in conformity with applicable standards and appropriate contents and details. Thus, the atmosphere of the area used for disposal of the chemicals specified in the document and might be aware of the threat when developing residential areas.In order to prevent the tragedy, the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation should also issue public statements in an objective and t ruthful manner. They should wrap up earlier that the area was not suitable for settlements before being sold. Section II.3.a states that all relevant and pertinent information in their reports, statements or testimony, which should bear the date indicating when it was current should included in the public statements. Engineers who winding in the project should be concerned about the conditions of the soil and environment before approving the project to proceed. They may express publicly their technical opinions that are founded upon knowledge of the facts and competence in the particular subject matter. Therefore, the development could be revoked, and prevent the tragedy.Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation sold Canal property with a token of dollar, hopping that the cooperation will be freed from the liability in the future contamination. It shows a deceptive act of Hooker and they concern more about own priority even though they knew the consequences that can be enamored o ut of their actions which can be stated in Section II.5.b. They shall not put the regard in order to secure themselves only but to concern the public in the future.In addition, the leakage of chemical waste disposal drums is one of the factors that caused the eruption. This leakage occurred due to chemical reaction after heavy rains. However, the parties multiform in the construction of the disposal drums shall not approve plans or documents dealing with the construction without prior concern about the quality and endurance towards the chemical reaction. The Love Canal tragedy could be avoided if the authorities involved showing a reasonable ethical behaviour in the particular cases.Ethical TheoriesThe case has been study in different perspectives. There are no specific theories that can be chosen to understand the problem but the result will be the same as the ethical theories will lead to the same conclusion.Utilitarianism seeks to produce the most utility, defined balancing o f good and bad. The theory holds the actions that maximizing the well-being of the indian lodge rather than individuals. The Niagara Falls School Board had to build schools and homes due to the economic boom of population in Niagara Falls after World War II. However, the hazardous of the land was not taking into account. The act utilitarianism is the main ideology in this case. The Love Canal was chosen by Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation for the chemicals disposal due the soil condition of the land and the plethora population at the nearby area. Plus, the dumping of chemical wastes was legal until year 1980.Right ethics and work ethics hold actions that respect the proper(ip)s of the individual as well as the good consequences to the society. Love Canal residents have the right to know the past history of the Love Canal. John Locke (1623-1704) said that humans deserve the equal right to life, liberty and property with the others, although in this case, most of them are t hemixture of low-income and single family residences. The residents who live at Love Canal have the right to live without fear of harms due to hazardous wastes. Ironically, the whole nation will benefits from the safe disposal of these wastes.Hence, Duty Ethics indicates the overall advantages to the society compared to that of the right ethics of the residents at Love Canal. Other than the chemical wastes by Hooker, the disposal of wastes from the U.S Army during and after World War II and the municipal disposal from neighborhoods of Niagara Falls City are part of contribution of the hazards to the public. After the declaration of emergency, the Occidental Chemical Cooperation (OCC) and U.S. Army show their righteousness on the disposal of wastes. They reimburse the residents loses in terms medical checking and lodging. Later, they remediate the Love Canal and restricted the land to the public.Virtue Ethics says that discharging wastes is irresponsible and harmful to individuals a nd so it should not be done. The honesty in declaring the facts to the public should have carried out by the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Cooperation and the Niagara Falls School Board. They are responsible in acknowledging the residents on the hazard issue of the land. Hooker should hold public-spirited action in the consideration of the selling of Canal property to the Board. The health concerns of the public should come first compared to that of the freed of liability for the future contamination.Factual, conceptual and Moral IssuesA canal was created in year 1890 with hopes of generating the hydro electricity. It was meant to generate power inexpensively to fuel the areas manufacturing and homes. However, the project failed due to limitations and in 1942 the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation bought it and buried 22,000 tons of toxic waste in the area. The proper sited, managed, and regulated landfills were approved by the Niagara Power and Development Company. Hooker Che mical and Plastics Corporation sold this site to the Niagara Falls School Board with a deed explicitly detailing the danger leaseed within the site, and including a liability limitation clause about the contamination. The schools were built on the Love Canal without concerning Hookers warnings.Wastes that buried beneath the Love Canal seeped out and polluted the air, water, or soil. The analytical tests were then carried out. The tried result on several sump-pumps near Love Canal and found toxic chemicals in them where potency effect to health such as cancer, blood diseases, epilepsy, miscarriages and others. The Superfund law was created to protect communities from heavily contaminated toxic waste sites that have been abandoned. Remedial works started after the order from the U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Clean-up by with the built of drainage trench and the clay was placed over land. Congressional acts developed to face toxics problem and EPA devising grants for programs to spe cialize in safe handling and disposal of wastes. 5Flow chart is used often by the engineering students. Flow chart is chosen as it can emphasize the different aspects of the same problem. For re firmness of purpose an ethical problem, all possible outcomes and scenarios has to be determined. Thus, flow chart is the best choice in solving the Love Canal casestudy problem.Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation wish to use Love Canal as the site of chemical wastes disposal.Are local laws strict for health safety? call for another location to be dump site.Is health safety of the public taken into account? fork over remedies for future contamination.Dump the chemicals wastes into the canal with shielded drums.NoNoYesYesFig. 4 Application of simple flow chart to the Love Canal case, emphasizing potential decisions make during consideration of dumping the wastes into the canal.Niagara Falls School Boards would like to build schools and homes at Love Canal.Is the land free from hazards of the wastes buried beneath?Relocate for the location of construction.Is the health safety of the residents been guaranteed?Acknowledge the risk of staying at that area to the residents.Continue the construction plan.NoNoYesYesFig. 5 Application of simple flow chart to the Love Canal case, emphasizing potential decisions made during consideration of schools and homes building on the canal.As illustrated in Figure 4, it presents the decision making bear upon of the Love Canal as the dump site of chemical wastes. The Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation should ensure that there is no leakage of the chemicals to the ground. Remedies such as restriction of constructions on that area should be implemented if they have foreseen the effect of contamination in the future. The Niagara Falls School Board neglecting the issue of health safety on the contamination land speeds up the level of exposure of the chemicals to the public.While for Figure 5, it shows the decision making process t hat might have gone by the authorities involved, for instance, The Niagara Falls Planning Board and The Niagara Falls School Board. They decide on the construction of the schools. It is obviously shows that the Boards only relocate the constructions 6 blocks away from the original plan due to the statements of the architect, saying that concrete foundation might damage if constructing the building on top of the dump site. The tragedy happens because the removal of protection clay cap and holes punching into the impermeable clay walls to build water lines.RemediesThe Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation should plan the proper way to dispose the hazardous waste properly without effecting the environment. Besides, they should bring up the hazardous waste and manage it differently. Since in this case, they put them together in the same place. Dioxin is the most hazardous substance together with benzene carcinogen and other make the very worst impact to the society health.Furthermor e, the government should survey and should expect the effect of build La Salle Expressway that crosses the canal. It makes the buried chemical beneath the land to migrate and seep from the canal. Effect of this construction, it restricted groundwater from flowing to Niagara River. It turns the breached canal into overflowing pool.Management of the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation should alert their hazardous waste is very harmful to the human and environment event in long term. They should not sell the property to the government. Otherwise they should manage the waste properly until it may not affect to environment.In addition, the management of private developer, for example Niagara Falls Housing Authority builds the housing project without knowing the history of the canal and the agreement between the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation and the school board.The local authorities or especially local politicians were trying to deny the problem. The Mayor of Niagara Fall s, Micheal C.OLaughlin state that there is nought wrong in Love Canal. As the mayor or the local authority, he should take this problem as serious thing. He should study the history survey the health report that obviously shows that there has something wrong with that area. Also, he should observe the area himself to prove it. Then take the precaution and final way to avoid the problem.In this disaster, the government has make a big mistake by wedged the Hooker Corporation to sell the properties even thought the Hooker has demonstrate that there have hazardous waste underground. The government should know the long term effect of this waste and not to build the school or any housing.Last but not least, the local government also went against all repeated warnings by the Hooker Chemical and Plastics Corporation and tried to profit off of the contaminated land. The government knows the chemical contain but they removed part of the protective clay cap to use as fill dirt and punched hol es in the impermeable clay walls to build water lines and the La Salle Expressway. At the beginning they should conscious about the environment and society. They cannot take in pawn of human life rather than for their sake.ConclusionThere is a remaining question- who has the liability regarding accidents occurring from wastes disposed of previously? Although taking into the account of these aggressive strides to make sure that hazardous waste is safely managed, it becomes a questionable issue. Relating to the liability, if health safety is detected at dangerous level, what are the authorities that willing to correct the situation? Are they willing to accept the after risk? Whos acquittance to pick up the tab? However, undoubtedly this question will be taken in hand effectively in the future. One of the main problems which against is that the shifting of the lands ownership. It is difficult to determine liability. It is within power of human to work out effective controls designed t o significantly lower or even cut off the environmental risks. Justifications in decisions that made are crucial in solving the dilemma. The tragedy is not over and done that the residents of Love Canal have given more than others.