An investigation into Tyson Foods has found that the meat processing giant has been dumping 371 pounds of toxic chemicals into waterways all over the U.S. throughout the past 5 years.
These chemicals pose a threat to humans, animals, and ecosystems, and the investigation has led to many calling for stricter regulations on toxic waste disposal.
Biden Administration Cracks Down on Toxic Pollution
The Biden administration has announced its plans to crack down on over 200 businesses to reduce their toxic pollution levels.
This will be placed under the Environmental Protection Agency, which wants to reduce harmful waste, toxic water run-off and radiation.
Tyson Foods’ Toxic Waste Was in 87 Billion Gallons of Wastewater
The investigation revealed that Tyson Foods’ toxic chemicals were put into 87 billion gallons of wastewater before being put into the waterways.
This wastewater filled around 132,000 Olympic-sized pools, which could cover Manhattan and New York more than two times over.
Tyson Foods Dumped Toxic Chemicals in 17 States
The investigation also revealed that Tyson Foods had dumped toxic chemicals in at least 17 states.
However, at least half of this toxic waste was dumped into Nebraska, Illinois and Missouri waterways.
The Midwest’s Environmental Problems
The Midwest already has environmental problems as it has high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus caused by industrial farming.
This causes algae to grow, harming infrastructure and worsening respiratory issues. It also reduces oxygen levels in the water, which leads to aquatic life suffocating and dying.
The Toxic Chemicals Can Exacerbate Respiratory Conditions
The toxic chemicals dumped by Tyson Foods can particularly affect those with respiratory conditions.
They can also clog the water infrastructure and contribute to dead zones that harm aquatic life and humans.
The Dangers of Chlorides and Sulfates
Tyson Foods also released chlorides and sulfates into the environment, which both have their own disastrous consequences.
Chlorides can be corrosive to waterpipes, and sulfates can cause gastrointestinal issues in humans.
15 States Have Drinking Water Containing Nitrates
The investigation also found that 15 U.S. states have high levels of nitrates in their water.
These levels can lead to blood disorders and brain defects in infants. It has also caused around 300 cancer cases per year just in Iowa.
Meat Processing Facilities Are Unregulated
Tyson Foods has been able to get away with this for a long time because meat processing facilities in the U.S. are unregulated regarding water regulations.
This causes many environmental issues and is a public health concern because the toxic chemicals cause irreversible damage.
Tyson Foods Ordered to Pay $2 Million
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered Tyson Foods to pay a $2 million criminal fine.
The sentencing was made at a Federal Court in Missouri. The company was also ordered to serve 2 years of probation and to pay a further $500,000 for violating the Clean Water Act.
Tyson Foods Killed 108,000 Fish
Tyson Foods received these fines after it was found to be responsible for the deaths of around 108,000 fish.
This was caused after a tank that stored Alimet sprang a leak, with the tank’s contents being put into the sewers. The Alimet then killed the bacteria that reduced ammonia, which caused the ammonia to be released and, ultimately, killed the fish.
How Policymakers Can Reduce Toxic Chemical Damage
There are several ways to reduce the amount of toxic chemical waste caused by big corporations, including Tyson Foods.
These include stricter regulations on wastewater pollution standards, better enforcement of discharge limits, and cracking down on the corporate consolidation that has enabled Tyson Foods to dump this amount of toxic chemicals.
