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The people of McIntosh, Alabama are fighting for accountability from nearby chemical plants due to the chronic illnesses that have been affecting their town for years. Lanier Isom reports for Al Jazeera that residents believe their health problems, including cancer and respiratory issues, are a direct result of years of chemical exposure from plants in the area.
The chemical companies Olin and BASF are facing lawsuits and federal mandates for cleanup as a result of hazardous waste dumping and toxic leaks. The community is calling for more research and transparency in order to put an end to the suffering and neglect that has been passed down through generations.
Hospice director, legal nurse consultant, and bioethicist Wendy Olson sums up the situation best by saying, “What I’m seeing now is continuous generations of McIntosh residents diagnosed with debilitating and end-of-life diseases which both the parents and grandparents died from.” This story highlights the importance of understanding the connection between industrial pollution and health issues in order to protect vulnerable communities and ensure environmental justice. It is a reminder of how marginalized groups are often the most severely impacted by environmental hazards, as seen in the disproportionate effect on Latino communities in Texas, which has more chemical emergencies than any other state.
