Families at risk as Michigan becomes toxic chemical ‘dumping ground’

Birth Defects, Toxic Exposure

After high-profile hazardous chemical spills in 2022 and 2023, it’s become crystal clear that the safe transportation and disposal of dangerous chemicals is a public health priority. While communities across the country are struggling to ensure corporations responsibly handle and dispose of toxic waste, one state in particular has been called “a toxic dump” because of the vast quantities of dangerous substances sent there for disposal.

Michigan’s Toxic History

Wayne Disposal is located in Belleville, a suburb of Detroit, and is licensed to receive 722 different types of hazardous waste, including benzene, dioxins, poly- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS, or forever chemicals), arsenic, asbestos, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These substances have all been linked to serious health risks, including cancer, diabetes, reproductive problems and birth defects.

Since 2018, Wayne Disposal has received 1.8 million hazardous waste, including 500 tons of what the EPA calls “acute waste” — chemicals that can cause serious harm, permanent incapacitation or even death.

How Toxic Chemicals Affect Our Health

Many of the chemicals handled by the Wayne Disposal facility have been linked to serious health risks, particularly for those who live nearby.

Research has shown that babies born near hazardous waste disposal sites have greater risks of low birth weight, cleft palates and neural tube defects. Neural tube defects occur early in pregnancy, often long before a woman knows she is pregnant, and include spinal disorders, such as spina bifida, and brain disorders, such as anencephaly. These are very serious disorders that can lead to death soon after birth or may require surgeries before and after birth to correct the defects.

It is critical that we devote more research to finding out how to protect expectant mothers from the harmful effects of these chemicals and ensure that companies do more to protect the public from these known toxins.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I live near a hazardous waste facility or Superfund site?

Many people have no idea they live near a hazardous waste treatment or disposal facility. They may be aware that there is a landfill close to them but not that it is allowed to take in dangerous chemicals. You can contact your state government or the EPA to find out about Superfund and hazardous waste disposal sites in your area.

What is benzene?

Benzene is a widely used industrial chemical that is highly flammable and has a sweet odor. It is in gasoline and crude oil, as well as solvents, plastics, glues, and many other products. Benzene has been linked to certain cancers, including Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), as well as low birth weight, spina bifida and leukemia in children.

What are PFAS? 

PFAS are a set of chemicals valued for their non-stick qualities and widely used in cooking products and food storage, as well as workout clothing, furniture, and electrical wire. PFAS have been used for decades in industrial settings and are components to fire-retardant foam used by the military and municipal fire departments. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment. They have been linked to pregnancy problems, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and premature birth, as well as birth defects and childhood obesity.

How We Help Birth Defects Victims

Seek justice with the help of our experienced birth defects attorneys. Our alliance of birth defects victims’ attorneys has represented people like you affected by birth defects caused by toxic exposure, aggressively fighting the corporate giants who failed to protect vulnerable workers. If you or a loved one was exposed to chemicals while pregnant and now have a child who suffers from a life-altering birth defect like spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy, we can help.