In the 48217 zipcode, community members have launched a
Bucket Brigade program to finally document the high levels of pollution that
they know they are living with.
Encompassing a mere 2.3 square miles, the largely African-American
48217 is the most polluted zipcode in the state of Michigan. With 25% of the
residents living below poverty level, community members are facing a daily
assault of toxic pollution.
Community: Southwest Detroit
Partner Organizations: Environmental Justice Committee of
the Sierra Club and Save 48217
GCM Partner since: 2009
Polluter Profile: the Marathon oil
refinery, a steel mill, a waste water treatment plant, a salt mine and several
other industrial facilities
Health Effects: Asthma, cancer, neurological diseases,
learning disabilities in children
Community monitoring tools: Air sampling buckets, pollution
Logs and real time air monitor
Positive results: Community members have begun documenting
air pollution, raising awareness in the media, and recently presented a series
of demands to US EPA officials.
