Issues Facing Florida
You may wonder about the devastating algae blooms that killed wildlife and fouled the air. That's one of the most visible problems in Florida, but sadly there are many other issues. Discharges of polluted water, leaking septic tanks, and fertilizer runoff are just a few things degrading water quality throughout the state. Our coastal estuaries and the unique ecosystem are at risk. To make matters worse, Florida is rapidly rising in population, and there's a growing demand for drinking water, which is depleting the state's underground supply. We depend on a healthy environment and need better protect Florida's environmentally sensitive land. Our health depends on it. If you want to learn more about the issues within your community, begin your research below.
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Start Your Research
- Drinking water database
- www.livescience.com/59935-tap-water-database.html
- Facilities contributing to cancer hazards in Florida
- scorecard.goodguide.com/env-releases/state-facility-ranks.tcl?fips_state_code=12&type=tep&category=cancer&modifier=NA
- Florida's Air Quality
- floridadep.gov/air/air-monitoring/content/floridas-air-quality
- Florida hazardous waste health risk assessments
- www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/hazardous-waste-sites/health-assessments.html
- Florida Health Charts
- www.flhealthcharts.com/charts/default.aspx
- Florida Water Data
- http://epa.gov/myenv/MyWater.html?minx=-108.28125&miny=17.47643&maxx=-59.50195&maxy=37.23033&ve=4,28.38200,-81.75800&cLat=&cLon=&pSearch=Florida
- Interactive Map tracking nonstick chemical pollution across the U.S.
- www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2017_pfa/#.WykGERYpCEc
- Map of arsenic concentrations in Florida surface soils
- www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-arsenic-concentrations-in-Florida-surface-soils-Soil-arsenic-criteria-of-040_fig3_314800118
- ORCA’s pollution maps
- teamorca.org/monitoring-mapping.html
- Pollution information site
- scorecard.goodguide.com/ranking/index.tcl
- Radium contamination in public water systems nationwide
- www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2018-radium/?utm_source=201801RadiationRelease&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201801RadiationReleaseGM#.Wyp9MRiZNZq
- State Cancer Profiles
- https://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/incidencerates/index.php?stateFIPS=12&cancer=086&race=00&sex=0&age=001&type=incd&sortVariableName=rate&sortOrder=default#results
- Toxic air pollutants
- https://iaspub.epa.gov/triexplorer/tri_factsheet.factsheet_forstate?&pstate=FL&pyear=2016&pParent=NAT%20Toxic%20release%20inventory%20factsheet%20by%20the%20EPA:%20https://ofmpub.epa.gov/triexplorer/tri_factsheet.factsheet?pParent=TRI1&pDataset=TRIQ2&pstate=FL&pcounty=Brevard&pFips=12009&pyear=2016
- Toxic sites map
- http://www.toxicsites.us/
Documents & Data
- Contamination Locator Map
- http://prodenv.dep.state.fl.us/DepClnup/welcome.do?fbclid=IwAR1USvYBkeK1rx3WAU0Oucuu6MIuQF7GfyRAnEXfv9_G5m2JG-CJnBzROSw
- Florida Aquifer System
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/ha/ha730/ch_g/G-Floridan.html?fbclid=IwAR2Ql6vZ0zQ1Ai_UnKCOc7u5_g0Fkies2QcTU6BlbqjuaTdX8Z-dj9Hh-DE
- Florida Brownfields Areas
- https://floridadep.gov/waste/waste-cleanup/content/florida-brownfields-area-and-site-documentation?fbclid=IwAR0X5W-ugZwaDEWhEUo_g4Ayr7dK9miE8JW1-ttRtlvCEpp6uKIAIHw0UUY
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection Data
- http://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/5c1ac7e1b3f34a5181fac1949e97621d_4
- Florida PFAS Map
- https://floridadep.gov/waste/waste-cleanup/content/pfas-investigation-federal-facilities
- Florida State Cancer Profiles
- https://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/incidencerates/index.php?stateFIPS=12&cancer=086&race=00&sex=0&age=001&type=incd&sortVariableName=rate&sortOrder=default&fbclid=IwAR3JS2WO1YvQSYmh48YriNlQd382v_E7uh8pr07s7wQLBkpROYI9yDsyfS8#results
- Map Arsenic Concentration in Surface Soils
- www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-arsenic-concentrations-in-Florida-surface-soils-Soil-arsenic-criteria-of-040_fig3_314800118
- Notices of Pollution
- http://fdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=90072bb50dab41e68a51419353d5d40f
- OCULUS Florida Department of Environmental Protection Document Management System (Use the "public OCULUS login button)
- https://depedms.dep.state.fl.us/Oculus/servlet/login
- Public Water Supply (PWS) Plants (Non-Federal)
- http://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/1df064433629466ba40ac8efffd5eea6_1/data?geometry=-93.948%2C13.583%2C-77.468%2C27.918
- State Cancer Profile
- https://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/map/map.noimage.php?fbclid=IwAR3n-Xqc_McKXjf90s0372_Uoic1hyrpn6DQAz5QIaWeqP6q4xLTTxaPvjw
- Statewide Background Water Quality 1994-1997
- http://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/5c1ac7e1b3f34a5181fac1949e97621d_4
- Radium Contamination Map
- https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2018-radium/?fbclid=IwAR289-y4CUAKVZBS31HfzdkYkUckKPTv386XRzPatScwCN9Cf0wtF5N6GGw#.WmZfyBM-cWq
- Radioactivity in Foods Grown on Florida Phosphate Lands
- http://fluoridealert.org/wp-content/uploads/fl.phosphate.radionuclides.food_.1986.pdf?fbclid=IwAR35Kwg912zTEg-QphZFnu7P6OuBP41AF3QAnMuQ3tHZGQqGJIzDRnbi1yo
Environmental Issues
Why is Florida’s tap water prone to contamination?
Florida May Not Be Testing Drinking Water Correctly, Says Government Memo:
Over 77 million people spread across all 50 states have been drinking from water systems that violate the Safe Drinking Water Act..." Florida is #2 on this list:
Florida wants to weaken its restrictions on roughly two dozen cancer-causing chemicals that can be discharged into its rivers, lakes, streams, and coastal waters.
Florida has the sixth-highest number of hazardous waste sites, known as Superfund sites, in the United States. In 2016, the state was projected to have the second-largest number of new cancer cases in the country.
Under Investigation
Bayshore High: "Cancer cluster" concerns at Bayshore High are under investigation.
Fort Pierce: Rare form of cancer sickens 11 people within a seven-mile radius.
Miami: Higher-than-expected rates of pediatric cancers have been identified in the Miami metro area and an area west of the Everglades.
Palm Bay: Harris Corp. has been cited for sloppy handling of hazardous waste, including cancer-causing pollutants, flammable solvents, and sludge that could contaminate groundwater.
Palm Beach County: At least 13 cases of brain cancer.
Patrick Air Force Base: Cancer-Causing Chemicals Detected In Groundwater At Patrick Air Force Base.
Seminole County: Researcher studies the number of rare childhood brain cancer cases in Central Florida.
Southwest Florida: A closer look at where a cancer-causing chemical was found in SWFL tap water.
The Silence of the State: This is a story about pediatric cancer clusters in Florida.
Did You Know?
Class I and II surface water classification requires that the surface waters of each state be classified according to designated uses. Florida has six classes with associated uses, which are arranged in order of degree of protection required.
Class I: Portable water supplied fourteen vernal areas throughout the state, including impoundments and associated tributaries, certain lakes, rivers, or portions of rivers, used as drinking water supply.
Class II: Shellfish propagation or harvesting is generally in coastal waters where shellfish harvesting occurs. geodata.dep.state.fl.us
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is a federal law that protects public drinking water supplies throughout the nation. Under the SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and, with its partners, implements various technical and financial programs to ensure drinking water safety. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa
If a community has to do a "chlorine burn," it is the drinking water utilities' first step in admitting something is wrong. The length of chlorine burns should be kept to a maximum of 21 days. An event such as a chlorine burn, or a switch from chloramine to chlorine, is considered to be part of the normal operations of a system for periodic maintenance. Erin Brockovich
Dozens of EPA Superfund sites, such as the gasification plant, which leaked dangerous chemicals into the ground, still exist throughout Central Florida. Read More: Superfund Sites
As of 2011, cancer is now the leading cause of death for Floridians, surpassing heart disease. In the three-year period from 2009-2011, the total number of cancer deaths was 122,921. There's an average of 100,000 new cancers diagnosed and reported each year to the statewide cancer registry, the Florida Cancer Data System. Florida Health
Florida was projected to have the second-largest number of new cancer cases in the United States. Tandfonline
Hazardous waste permits provide treatment, storage, and disposal facilities with the legal authority to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. Source: EPA Hazardous Waste Permitting
"Dr. Amin’s statistical analysis of pediatric cancers in Florida – from the years 2000 to 2007 – concluded that there are significant cancer clusters in two large areas of Florida: the southern region of Florida and in northeast Florida. That struck one of the most sensitive nerves in state government." Source: https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/06/04/cancer-clusters-in-florida-the-silence-of-the-state/
"A statewide increase in pediatric cancer rates that started in 2005. Five separate research teams from the group Science and Public Policy analyzed data from 2000-2010. Although their methodologies were different, they were all attempting to detect cancer clusters in the Florida area. "Unusually high" cancer rates." Source: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/researchers-find-pediatric-cancer-clusters-in-florida-042115.html
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