Overview

Picher, Oklahoma, was once a thriving mining town. Unfortunately, its prosperity came at a terrible cost. Years of lead and zinc mining left behind a legacy of environmental contamination, forever altering the town's fate.

Setup

Picher's boom began in the early 1900s with the discovery of vast lead and zinc deposits. Mining became the lifeblood of the community, attracting residents and shaping its identity. However, the mining process left behind piles of waste rock called "chat." This chat contained high levels of lead and other heavy metals, but its dangers were not widely understood at the time.

Disaster

The true cost of Picher's prosperity became tragically clear. Lead dust from the chat contaminated the air and soil. Residents, unaware of the health risks, breathed it in and even used chat for landscaping, unknowingly exposing themselves and their families. This led to widespread lead poisoning, particularly among children, causing lasting health problems including learning disabilities. The once vibrant town became a victim of its own success, with Tar Creek, the waterway that ran through it, turning red from heavy metal pollution.

Aftermath

By the 1980s, the situation was dire. The Environmental Protection Agency designated Picher a Superfund site, acknowledging the environmental catastrophe. However, the damage was irreversible. Alarmingly high lead poisoning rates in children prompted a government buyout program, offering residents a chance to relocate. The final blow came in 2008 with a devastating tornado, further solidifying the town's decline. By 2010, Picher was practically deserted. The official closure arrived in 2015 with the passing of the last resident.

Picher serves as a stark reminder of the long-term environmental consequences of resource extraction. While the town itself is gone, the legacy of lead poisoning continues to impact the lives of those who once called it home.

Sources: Wikipedia, BBC

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