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Kodak Chemical Spill . Jasmine Spence Mr.Juda. Background. Date :1986 Location: Rochester NY What happened Eastman Kodak was one of the leading photography business in Rochester NY in the 1980’s, producing entertainment imagery, government systems, digital imagery and much
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Kodak Chemical Spill Jasmine Spence Mr.Juda
Background • Date :1986 • Location: Rochester NY • What happened • Eastman Kodak was one of the leading photography business in Rochester NY in the 1980’s, producing entertainment imagery, government systems, digital imagery and much • more everything started to change when they began changing everything to digital using many more chemicals
Causes of the Disaster • Kodak caused • Many people to leave there homes, some even long term homes. • Many people suffered from fibromyalgia asthma different kinds of cancers • the longer people live closer to Kodak Park the more there chances increase of getting Pancreatic Cancer which is very fatal • Kodak alone released more toxic chemicals in the air and water than all of the 144 major polluters in Erie, Niagara, Monroe counties combined. • Kodak was responsible for 90 percent of the 64.4 million pounds of Carcinogenic release into Rochester’s water.
Amount of Damage • Very high because they notice the chemical spill and failed to report it for five days • The ground water at the plant was contaminated by high levels of the cancer causing chemicals like methylene and carcinogens which contaminated the Genesee river
Impacts • Immediate • people refrain from going out side as often • Kodak had to pay over 2.1 million dollars to clean up all the waste that was dumped into the water and air • They never reported it for five days after it had happened • about 1990 government came up with the clean air act that could put a regulation on how much companies can emit and if they go over they have to pay to have it fixed.
Short term Impact • Kodak stacks spewed about 30,000 gallons of Methylene chloride a solvent used to make film and has carcinogen around schools homes and much more causing parents to not want kids to go to school so the are not hurt • Pay to clean up the earth that they polluted and contaminated the water
Current Impacts • There are fears that wider contamination may still be found so that makes people not want to be outside or more to areas farther away and move out of long term houses • Causing many tours attractions in the area to decline in sales like red wing staduim • Lower property values causing people to loose out in money on there homes
Future Impacts • Kodak continues to keep things digital (still using chemicals) to give the people what they want because that’s how they make their money • Kodak’s plans to keep things digital meaning more chemicals and without proper regulation we can have the same thing happen and this time it may be to late of a problem to fix or the expensive of the problem may be to high meaning we will not have the a good amount of drinking water this problem can lead to shortages
Efforts to Remediate • They came up with a clean air and water act that helped regulate how much pollution each city was causing and why • Making Kodak pay for what they did in clean up the water • My opinion is they didn’t do enough
References • Niman M. alternet.org (2003), Kodak Toxic Moments accessed May 25, • the EPA (1988) the EPA subpoenas Kodak on Chemical Spill, The Washington Post • Ireland C. from Democrate and Chronicle • the Article, Foderaro L. (1989), Pollution By Kodak Brings Sense of Betrayal, NY times • the Article Democrate and chronicle (1990), Kodak Fined $2.1 Million for Wastes, • The article (2008) Kodak Future Still Could Be Blurry