NPR Series: Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=142000896 Toxic air pollution, involving nearly 200 chemicals deemed so harmful to health Congress sought to bring emissions under control 21 years ago, persists in hundreds of U.S. communities. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:39:37 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities https://www.npr.org/series/142000896/poisoned-places-toxic-air-neglected-communities Gizmo Uses Lung Cells To Sniff Out Health Hazards In Urban Air Scientists are trying to figure out how chemicals in the air interact with each other to make people sick. So they're building an instrument — a "lung in a box" — that goes way beyond the usual chemical monitors. Fri, 31 May 2013 13:18:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2013/05/31/186236508/gizmo-uses-lung-cells-to-sniff-out-health-hazards-in-urban-air https://www.npr.org/2013/05/31/186236508/gizmo-uses-lung-cells-to-sniff-out-health-hazards-in-urban-air

Scientists are trying to figure out how chemicals in the air interact with each other to make people sick. So they're building an instrument — a "lung in a box" — that goes way beyond the usual chemical monitors.

]]> Richard Harris Houston's Petrochemical Industry, Source Of Jobs And Smog Houston's air quality improved dramatically over the past decade, but the city is still short of meeting the latest smog standards. Getting there isn't simply a matter of cracking down more on the petrochemical industry — the city needs to deal with cars on its sprawling roads, and bad air blowing from out of town. Fri, 31 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2013/05/31/187459766/houstons-petrochemical-industry-source-of-jobs-and-smog https://www.npr.org/2013/05/31/187459766/houstons-petrochemical-industry-source-of-jobs-and-smog Houston's air quality improved dramatically over the past decade, but the city is still short of meeting the latest smog standards. Getting there isn't simply a matter of cracking down more on the petrochemical industry — the city needs to deal with cars on its sprawling roads, and bad air blowing from out of town.

]]> Richard Harris Baton Rouge's Corroded, Overpolluting Neighbor: Exxon Mobil The Standard Heights neighborhood sits next to the nation's second-largest gasoline refinery. Recently, residents learned a new truth about the plumes of exhaust they see every day: Exxon Mobil's aging refinery and petrochemical facilities — like many others — are pumping out far more pollution than the law allows. Thu, 30 May 2013 16:29:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/187044721/baton-rouge-s-corroded-overpolluting-neighbor-exxon https://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/187044721/baton-rouge-s-corroded-overpolluting-neighbor-exxon

The Standard Heights neighborhood sits next to the nation's second-largest gasoline refinery. Recently, residents learned a new truth about the plumes of exhaust they see every day: Exxon Mobil's aging refinery and petrochemical facilities — like many others — are pumping out far more pollution than the law allows.

(Image credit: John W. Poole)

]]> Elizabeth Shogren Breathing Easier: How Houston Is Working To Clean Up Its Air Intensely smoggy days are striking less often thanks to better technology that pinpoints problems, and laws that have prompted fixes. Still, scientists say they haven't yet tracked down all the sources of the pollution fouling the region's air. Thu, 30 May 2013 03:01:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/185993899/breathing-easier-how-houston-is-working-to-clean-up-its-air https://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/185993899/breathing-easier-how-houston-is-working-to-clean-up-its-air

Intensely smoggy days are striking less often thanks to better technology that pinpoints problems, and laws that have prompted fixes. Still, scientists say they haven't yet tracked down all the sources of the pollution fouling the region's air.

(Image credit: Richard Harris)

]]> Richard Harris Once-Secret 'Watch List' Of Alleged Polluters Under Review At EPA The Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general is looking at the records kept about allegedly chronic polluters and whether regulators have been doing enough to enforce environmental laws. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:08:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/06/171280185/once-secret-watch-list-of-alleged-polluters-under-review-at-epa https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/06/171280185/once-secret-watch-list-of-alleged-polluters-under-review-at-epa

The Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general is looking at the records kept about allegedly chronic polluters and whether regulators have been doing enough to enforce environmental laws.

]]> Howard Berkes Despite Warnings From Inspector, One Iowa Town Still Battles Toxic Air One inspector says the Grain Processing Corp. plant in Muscatine, Iowa hasn't been complying with pollution limits for years and a lax regulation system has allowed for it. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:32:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/11/30/142948573/despite-warnings-from-inspector-one-iowa-town-still-battles-toxic-air https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/11/30/142948573/despite-warnings-from-inspector-one-iowa-town-still-battles-toxic-air

One inspector says the Grain Processing Corp. plant in Muscatine, Iowa hasn't been complying with pollution limits for years and a lax regulation system has allowed for it.

(Image credit: Chris Hamby)

]]> Howard Berkes EPA Takes Action Against Toxic Arizona Copper Plant The unpublicized "finding of violation" issued against the Asarco copper smelter in Hayden, Ariz., claims the company has been emitting illegal amounts of lead, arsenic and eight other dangerous compounds for six years. Asarco disputes that. Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:55:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/11/17/142439081/epa-takes-action-against-toxic-arizona-copper-plant https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/11/17/142439081/epa-takes-action-against-toxic-arizona-copper-plant

The unpublicized "finding of violation" issued against the Asarco copper smelter in Hayden, Ariz., claims the company has been emitting illegal amounts of lead, arsenic and eight other dangerous compounds for six years. Asarco disputes that.

(Image credit: Emma Schwartz)

]]> Howard Berkes N.Y. Plant's Neighbors Expose Regulatory Gaps After Tonawanda's residents got sick, they vowed to fight high levels of hazardous chemicals emitting from a dilapidated plant. In doing so, they found weaknesses in how EPA regulates air pollution. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/11/10/142189390/tonawanda-provides-lessons-for-fighting-toxic-air https://www.npr.org/2011/11/10/142189390/tonawanda-provides-lessons-for-fighting-toxic-air

After Tonawanda's residents got sick, they vowed to fight high levels of hazardous chemicals emitting from a dilapidated plant. In doing so, they found weaknesses in how EPA regulates air pollution.

]]> Elizabeth Shogren EPA Regulations Give Kilns Permission To Pollute Cement plants, like Ash Grove in Chanute, Kan., burn hazardous waste for fuel, causing anxiety for nearby residents despite assurances of regulators. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/11/10/142183546/epa-regulations-give-kilns-permission-to-pollute https://www.npr.org/2011/11/10/142183546/epa-regulations-give-kilns-permission-to-pollute

Cement plants, like Ash Grove in Chanute, Kan., burn hazardous waste for fuel, causing anxiety for nearby residents despite assurances of regulators.

(Image credit: David Gilkey)

]]> Howard Berkes A Family's Fight To Clear The Air The Galemore family is taking on the Ash Grove Cement Kiln in hopes of preventing hazardous emissions from poisoning their community. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/11/10/142193309/a-familys-fight-to-clear-the-air https://www.npr.org/2011/11/10/142193309/a-familys-fight-to-clear-the-air

The Galemore family is taking on the Ash Grove Cement Kiln in hopes of preventing hazardous emissions from poisoning their community.

(Image credit: David Gilkey)

]]> Sarah Harris