In the 1970s, children in the Love
Canal neighborhood of Niagara
Falls, New York, started getting
sick. Some developed diseases
such as epilepsy and asthma. Many
babies were born premature. Others
had birth defects. A number of
children never grew their adult teeth.
When black goo began seeping up
from the grass, residents knew
something was wrong.
One young mother
took action.
Lois Gibbs
had two children who were sick. She
read a newspaper article that said
chemical waste was buried in the
area. Lois spoke to her neighbors.
She recorded the conditions
residents had. Her work gained
national attention.
Officials began to
investigate.
They found
that the
Hooker
Toxic Sludge Poisons New
York State Neighborhood
1
The foundation
of a home that was
relocated. Behind is the
filled-in chemical
dump.
Love Canal
neighborhood.
4
