The cancer in your backyard | Lauren Minsky | TEDxHaverford College

Environmental Pollution and Health Impacts - A Pennsylvania town, Chester, is heavily polluted by a trash incinerator burning 12 million tons of trash annually, an oil refinery with outdated pollution control, and other industrial facilities [3][4][6] - Air pollution in the area contains particulate matter, gaseous pollutants, heavy metals, and at least 32 different volatile organic chemicals [23][24] - Pollution can trigger cancer through oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, DNA damage, and epigenetic changes [28][29][30] Cancer Incidence in Delaware County - The People's Cancer Incident Screening Tool (PCIST) reveals elevated rates of various cancers in southeastern Delaware County compared to the US national average [32][35][36] - Chester City shows 11 different types of cancer with elevated incidence rates, ranging from 16% to 91% higher than the US average, with liver and bile cancer being almost double [34][35] - Marcus Hook, where an LNG refinery is located, exhibits cancer incidence rates ranging from 51% to 299% higher than the US national average [36] Societal and Ethical Considerations - The Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees the right to clean air and pure water, emphasizing the need to reconsider energy and waste management practices [42] - There is a lack of tools to see the connections between pollution and community's lived experiences of cancer [31] - Pollution from facilities like the oil refinery impacts the health of residents, including children playing sports nearby [16][41]