Love Canal

Love Canal is a neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York, that became infamous in the late 1970s due to environmental health hazards caused by toxic waste. Industrial chemicals were buried beneath the area, and over time, they leached into the soil and groundwater, affecting residents' health. In 1978, residents reported alarming rates of birth defects and other illnesses, leading to national attention. The situation prompted the federal government to declare it a disaster area, ultimately resulting in the evacuation of families and the establishment of the Superfund program to clean up hazardous waste sites across the country.