Member-only story
The Upper Columbia River is Finally a Superfund Site
Or how much Lead, Arsenic, Zync and Cadmium would you like in your water?
I often write about how we’re conveniently, kindly, and diplomatically killing ourselves. We know what’s unhealthy and what’s not, yet we find endless justifications to either lead us down the unhealthy path or keep us stuck in the comfort of an unhealthy status quo. Instead of erring on the side of caution, following the precautionary principle, we prioritize economic and political gains over human and environmental health.
As of December 13, 2024, the Upper Columbia River is finally designated a Superfund site. It’s a long-overdue acknowledgment of what’s been officially known since the early 20th century: the river is contaminated with arsenic, lead, cadmium, and zinc from a smelting operation just across the border in Canada. This designation unlocks funds and attention required for cleanup, but it’s been a century-long process.
In the meantime, the ecosystem has suffered unjustifiable harm. A 2012 study by Washington State Ecology found that the number of amphipods, a main food source for fish, decreased by 94% in waters contaminated by the smelting. Health studies conducted on citizens of Northport, WA, in 1991 and 2011 revealed significant increases in thyroid disorders…
