The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "health hazard" ...
-
Bad Neighbor Banks: How Big Lenders Spread Blight
Across South Florida, on block after block, homes abandoned in the foreclosure crisis have become eyesores, depressing property values, and posing health and safety hazards for nearby families. The Sun Sentinel investigated and found who was responsible for letting these homes rot: some of the world’s largest banks.
Tags: Hazards; property; banks; public health; public safety
-
Toxic Legacy: The Story of Boat Harbor
An inlet from the sea in Nova Scotia is the site of an environmental catastrophe wrought by a Scott Paper Company mill. To attract the mill, officials approved using Boat Harbor as a toxic waste treatment pond. The investigation details the actions governmental bodies took in conjunction with Scott Paper that produced the health hazard that Boat Harbor creates for nearby residents today.
Tags: Nova Scotia; Boat Harbor; Scott Paper; mill; toxic; waste; water; residents; lagoon; environment; health; hazard; public;
-
Toxic Neighbors
Industrial plants with toxic chemicals were located blocks from homes, apartment complexes and schools. Some were found across the street from residences. The staff mapped where hazardous material sites were located in relation to densely-populated areas.
Tags: housing; toxins; poison; factory; zoning; subdivision; inner city; EPA; health; chlorine;
-
Meth Home Cover-Up
The story reveals that former meth houses, already cleaned up and declared safe to live in by the Salt Lake City Health Department are still contaminated. KSL hired a certified lab to conduct its own meth tests on two of the so-called clean homes. Both sites tested positive for meth residue, with levels reaching 14 times what the state considers safe in a child's room
Tags: meth; meth lab; methanphetamine; drugs; DEA; health department; health hazard; contamination; toxicity;
-
American Imports, Chinese Deaths
The U.S. imports $287.8 billion of products from China, however, the Chinese workers have no health and safety regulations. While making the imported products the workers suffer "from fatal occupational disease because they touch and inhale carcinogens," and "have suffered limb and finger amputations because of saw/cutting instruments they use are very old."
Tags: trade; China; worker safety; health; carcinogens; occupational hazard; amputation; disease; imports
-
Hidden Hazards
This investigation exposed how the Consumer Product Safety Commission fails to protect American children from injury and death. This series examines the dangers of certain kinds of products such as cribs, magnetic toys and jewelry and spinning tops to show what specific dangers they might cause and why they are still on the market. The seriest also examined the production chain of Chinese jewelry that had been recalled, and showed how some products slip through gaps and are still on the market.
Tags: child health; product safety; consumer health; FOIA; federal government; imports; government recalls
-
NHL Headache
Players in the National Hockey League have been in danger of concussions and other health hazards that can reult in serious neurological problems. From the '96-97 season through the '06-07 year, there were 5,500 missed games wand cost teams millions of dollars in salaries to players who weren't on the ice.
Tags: todd bertuzzi; nhlpa; trevor letowski; anaheim ducks; brian burke
-
Toxic Trinkets
"The Tampa Tribune conducted an investigation of stores and federal regulations aimed at protecting consumers from hazardous products. It found that one in three children's trinkets bought randomly at local stores contained a level of lead considered a serious health risk to children younger than six. "
Tags: health; lead; toys; children; consumer reports; business
-
Public Pays for Toxic Trails
Reporters Sarah Ruby and James Burger look into the reason why California's Kern County has so many toxic waste dumps. They found that many companies came to the county as recycling companies in recent decades, promising to turn hazardous waste into road base or other useful things. Instead, they made toxic dump piles. The Kern County Health Department had turned a blind eye to these activities, trying to "work" with the companies, but this strategy failed. BY the time the state had to step in to try to solve the problem, the culpable companies were gone, and taxpayers had to foot the cleanup bill.
Tags: Toxic waste; pollution; Kern County, CA; Bakersfield, CA; environmental health
-
Trouble In Toyland
After a toddler died from eating tiny magnets that fell off a toy, the Magnetix Building Set, the family contacted KOMO-TV. The following investigation found that building sets fell apart regularly and found "3 other children on the West Coast who were at death's doorstep after swallowing magnets."
Tags: toys; hazard; magnets; children; death; health risk; toymakers; CPSC