The Toxic Legacy of the Fore River Basin

The Fore River Basin is home to 8 industrial facilities. Community air-quality testing has revealed high level of pollutants in the area, including formaldehyde and benzene. The community cannot endure any further destruction or pollution. Instead of building yet another toxic facility, we need to address the pollution that is already there. There’s an article in the Ledger this week that highlights this exact issue. You can read the full piece here.

Excerpt: “The Fore River basin is home the largest concentration of industry south of Boston and for more than 100 years, its residents have lived in the shadow of pollution that has taken a toll on their air quality, water quality, soil and health. …

Growing up on the Town River, the seven Madden siblings got to swim and play along a picturesque beach at the shore.

The setting wasn’t as perfect as it seemed, they say.

“There would be bubbles from the soap and oil slicks on the water,” Jeanne Madden said, standing on the shore at Baker Beach this week. “Birds would wash up dead, fish would wash up dead.”

Her brother Jim Madden, who now lives in Florida, was diagnosed earlier this year with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease affecting 40 or fewer in every 100,000 Americans. Childhood playmate Debbie Spink Yanoolis and another friend’s father, Kenneth Pearson, share his diagnosis.” (The Patriot Ledger)