In the previous class, we left off wondering what the possible source of Central Park’s lead levels was. Since it was not the leaded gasoline, as originally thought, researchers pinpointed it to New York City’s use of incinerators. As elated as they might have felt in finding the source of NYC’s lead pollution, what was the point? Incinerators were stopped years ago. This research didn’t solve any problems of today, so what was the idea behind trying to find out why? This requires a small digression into NYC’s trash management and the New Bedford case study.
Getting rid of our waste and garbage has been a ubiquitous and constant problem for cities and villages alike. As cities grow, they sought cheap and effective means of getting rid of the garbage. Rivers were used to dump sewage until reports in the mid-19th century showed that waste would build up downstream. Then incinerators were used to burn any trash that could be burned until reports showed that airborne pollutants are released when trash is burned. Now landfills are used but research has shown that some plastics are leeched into the ground and could contaminate ground soil.
What is important about NYC’s trash management records is how accurate they are. They have recorded how much and what kinds of trash are thrown out annually. Over the course of decades, the introduction, drop off, and general flux in consumption of goods can be seen in what is thrown out. The introduction of breakout products (the nylon stocking, the disposable diaper, etc.) can be seen in the landfills like layers of sediment at the bottom of a lakebed. But again, there is question, why does it matter?
The New Bedford case study illuminates a number of key points to understand. History is important, and this cannot be emphasized enough. Before any action can be taken to undergo treatment of the environment, it is important to understand how the present state of the environment came to be. The case study of New Bedford shows us how damage to the environment is rarely caused by a one-time incident. New Bedford, like many American cities, underwent a number of changes over the course of time. From agriculture, to whaling, to textiles, to industry, each phase of New Bedford presented another new problem to the environment. An environmental issue is rarely an “accident” in the strictest sense of the word but a result of continuous, lasting, and detrimental actions. By pleading ignorance, it is easier for us to call them “accidents.” The inability to fish in New Bedford was not the result of a singular cause, but the result of a combination of sewage, PCBs, and industrial waste.
The Central Park study, the NYC waste management records, and the New Bedford case study show the importance of knowledge and history. History provides context for the issues of today; it allows us to make informed decisions of what does and what does not work; lastly, it shows just how fragile our environment is. Every action we have taken can still be seen within the layers beneath.
