The Hill: 'Under the Sea, Out of Mind' Has Turned Into a Ticking Time Bomb
- Cancer
- Pollution
‘Under the sea, out of mind’ has turned into a ticking time bomb
By Dr. Jeff Boehm, of The Marine Mammal Center, and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.)
Published in The Hill: May 3, 2022
From 1947 until 1961, one of the biggest environmental crimes of the past century was taking place right under our noses. Now, in 2022, this reckless action has proven to have major health implications — like cancer — not just for wildlife, but potentially for humans.
For nearly 15 years, Montrose Chemical Company was dumping barrels of DDT and acid sludge into the ocean just off the coast of Los Angeles near Santa Catalina Island. The estimated number — originally believed to be around 27,000 — now tops 500,000 barrels and covers an area much larger than the city of San Francisco.
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