How to Find Out if You Live Near Toxic Waste Sites

Wondering if toxic waste is in your neighborhood or community? Perhaps you feel stress every time you go to work...

I was astounded to see how many areas have toxic waste and toxic releases when I was researching the article on sexual offenders in communities and near our homes.

Before you build a home, buy a home, or move into an area, it's a great idea to determine how much toxic waste is in the area. Avoid depression by doing your homework! Toxic waste comes from many sources so do your homework.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Access to the world wide web
• Web surfing ability
• A computer and equipment
• Courage not to panic

1. Log onto http://www.city-data.com.

2. From the list that appears, click on your state, or the state you are researching toxic waste. For example, I clicked on Ohio. A list of cities will appear.

3. Next, select the city you desire to research. For this example, I will use a city that is unfamiliar - Boardman. Toward the bottom of the web page, there is a map that has squares in the diagram. Below the map, you will see the word "LEGEND" in burgundy letters. Listed below "LEGEND" are indicators of the following: hazardous waste and toxic releases.

4. City-data.com also allows you to select zip codes to conduct extensive research of an area. When you have selected a city to research, near the top of the web page, a section titled, "Zip codes" will appear. A listing of zip codes in the city will be shown next to, or near, a map. Click on a zip code from the list (if the city is large enough to have a listing). If there are toxic waste and toxic releases conducted in that zip code, you will find the information located under the zip code you have selected.

5. Remain calm throughout your research. Most pollution is in the home from other products where no regulations on product safety exists. Clean out your own home first of toxic chemicals and then contact your local government about area toxic waste.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not become alarmed if your neighborhood has toxic waste noted in the map. While the waste may be present, the EPA has guidelines in place for companies to ensure the safety of citizens.
• Always verify information from sources with the city or county engineer's office.
• Always conduct researches on property you intend to purchase. This is especially true if you want to become an expatriate and purchase land in another country.
• As a citizen, the Freedom of Information Act grants you the right to know which chemicals are permitted in your area by your government. While a company may not disclose the information, there are other resources available to discover what chemicals are being used in your area or community.
• Identify chemicals from the EPA link below
• If you discover toxic waste or releases in your area, consult your health care practitioner if you are having health concerns.

Resources

• EPA Toxic Waste Information
• Toxic Waste Educational Resources

[carmensjones]

on 7/17/2009 never thought about this before. thanks

[sonni57]

on 6/10/2009 Nobody wants to live near a toxic waste site we could turn into mutant ninja turtles.

[2besure]

on 6/7/2009 Thanks so much for this important information!

[edieness]

on 6/7/2009 How to Find Out if You Live Near Toxic Waste Sites is a five star article. Nice work.

[jenng]

on 6/6/2009 Great article on how to find out if you live near toxic waste sites 5* and recommended