Superfund Webquest
Hazardous Waste Research Project
As part of the fallout from the discovery of the abandoned toxic waste site underneath the homes and school of Love Canal, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) was passed. This law, more commonly known as Superfund, designates contaminated sites all over the United States in need of remediation. This Superfund webquest has students discover sites within their state or county that have made this National Priority List (NPL). They will read about the former identity of the hazardous waste site, the toxic chemicals that have been discovered there, and the steps taken by the EPA through the Superfund law to clean up and remediate the site. Finally, they will access a hazardous chemical database to determine the health risks associated with the specific contaminants found at these Superfund sites.
Essential concepts: CERCLA, Superfund, hazardous waste, toxic chemicals, toxicology, health effects, EPA, carcinogens, teratogens, endocrine disruptors.
