17th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest The American Experience
Memory of fresh air

My husband is a civil engineer and part of his job is inspecting refineries. At the end of August there was another toxic leak of chemicals (cyanide and ammonia-nitrogen) in lake Michigan, close to the beach my family likes to go. Indiana Dunes shoreline was shut down for visitors for about two weeks. Same thing happened 2 years ago when U. S. Steel had a toxic spill of hexavalent chromium. The air quality around all refineries in our area has worsen in the last 3 years due to the roll back of regulations. Pollution has increased nearly 14% under the Trump administration. My husband is required to wear a respirator when vising the refineries. What about his family and other people who happen to walk or drive close by?

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2019
Photo Location: Palos Hills, Illinois, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D3300
Copyright: © Antoaneta Minchev