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Bridgette Medina
English 113B
Professor Mercado
April 18, 2016

In a poor community that consists of minorities, there are a variety of social issues one
can address. Whether its drug related or urban renewal, it can affect a wide selection of people or
the entire population established in the city. In regards to this, there was a prominent social issue
that arose once it was discovered a battery recycling plant known as Exide Technologies had
been violating hazardous waste laws for decades in Vernon becoming a hazardous threat to the
residents in Vernon and the communities around. Without any restriction, sufficient acts, or
engagement from the communities to fight against the battery plant promoting extremely
hazardous waste quickly spreading among homes and affecting the environment and health of
residents, the social issue continues to grow because of the huge environmental harm done in the
past decades. This social issue is essential because the battery plant, Exide Technologies, has
caused severe damage to the communities that surround it because it hasn't properly disposed of
hazardous waste and ultimately has affected the environment and health of residents.
Vernon is considered a big industrial city and many of the corporations established in the
city definitely contribute to the vast air pollution in the city which also affect all the communities
around. However, of all the corporations a particular company called Exide technologies, a
company known to have operated since 1922 dedicated to recycling batteries has had several
issues with managing and disposing pollutants and hazardous metals properly such as lead,
arsenic, along with other toxic pollutants. For years, the Exide battery plant carried the reputation

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of not meeting environmental regulations. Tony Barboza, a contact reporter from LA Times
states, The California Department of Toxic Substances Control had known for years that Exide
was violating environmental laws by releasing pollutants into the air, soil, and water, but failed to
stop it (2). In making this comment, Barboza argues that while The California Department of
Toxic Substances were well aware of the felonies committed by Exide, they also agreed to keep a
large population of minorities oblivious to the toxic environment they lived under. Therefore,
this situation definitely becomes a social concern once a battery plant is known to be toxic and a
huge threat to public health within the community and communities around, and yet is allowed to
operate freely without any laws to forbid such unjust inhumane acts towards a large population
that consists mainly of Hispanics. In the article, Barboza states the following, For 33 years the
state allowed the plant to operate without a full permit, even as inspectors documented more than
100 violations, including lead and acid leaks, an overflowing pond of toxic sludge, enormous
cracks in the floor and hazardous levels of lead in the soil outside (2). Barboza insists that
despite the huge hazardous threat residents lived upon, the state itself continued to allow Exide
Technologies to operate which lead to endangering the lives of minorities for several years
affecting younger generations. In addition to this, because Exide technologies failed to meet
procedures and regulations regarding appropriate waste disposal and restricting air pollutants
from being released into the air for over decades, it ultimately lead to the vast contamination of
lead being found in the soils of homes across the entire community of Vernon alongside the
surrounding communities. Consider the following quote, Abby Sewell a contact reporter from
LA Times states the latest findings on contaminated grounds on April 5, 2016. The county test
results mirror the findings of separate tests by the state, which have found that 99% of homes

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where soil was tested were in need of cleanup (1). In the quote, Sewell states the high
percentage of contaminated homes in the area, bringing to our understanding the health concerns
that arise within the population. The problem definitely got worse over the years affecting the
environment and health of residents because they continued to live on contaminated grounds,
exposed to air pollutants, without any health notice or warnings about the battery plant
promoting so many health issues.
The social issue was initially recognized as a threat towards the community in the year
2008 when residents began complaining about ash falling on nearby soil, streets, and businesses.
Soon after, air quality regulators acted to restrict emissions. However, despite the few
restrictions, the air quality didn't improve and so didn't the overall environment. An LA Times
Editorial states, While Exide was operating, air quality officials determined its arsenic emissions
posed an increased cancer risk to more than 100,000 residents (3). In the quote, the LA Times
editorial states regardless of the health issues residents were at risk of developing, residents
weren't getting the medical attention needed such as tests to conclude their overall well-being.
Furthermore, as the community became vulnerable to the health hazards, the age group being the
most affected were children considering they are more prone to suffer from learning disabilities
when exposed to lead. Consider the following quote, Tony Barboza a contact reporter from LA
Times states, The analysis released Friday by the state Department of public Health found
3.58% of young children within a mile of Exide Technologies facility had elevated levels of
poisonous metal in their blood (year 2012) (1). Children with elevated levels of lead are also
most likely to later develop behavioral problems and diminished IQs. The act of not announcing
any health notices with anticipation to aware residents about their health risks is wrong because

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by not warning the residents about the polluted environment they currently were compelled to
live under, the state was snatching the residents rights to strike for a better community, a clean
environment and the right to breathe clean air.
Just as the years have progressed and the contamination has continued to spread,
questions have began to rise about how this issue will be fixed and what it will take to move
families into safer grounds while the state works on a plan to gradually clean the air for residents
to breathe. Residents are primarily concerned with shutting down Exide and demand an
immediate cleanup of the contaminated grounds which they live upon. Consider the following
quote, Garrison an LA Times reporter states, The state has given the company two weeks to
come up with a plan for additional testing and solutions to protect people living with elevated
lead in their soil. Officials also plan to begin offering free blood tests for lead to anyone who
wants them later this spring (1). I believe it is wrong for the state to be considerate with a
battery plant that has polluted the environment and affected the health of residents for decades by
giving the battery plant (Exide) time to organize a plan. Residents can no longer afford to waste
more time living under hazardous pollutants. In fact, it is essential that the state unites with the
communities and demands immediate answers on Exides behalf on how they will manage the
cleaning of over 100,000 contaminated homes and how they will cover the medical expenses
required to determine the overall health of the residents exposed to the hazardous waste absorbed
from their own homes. Consider the following quote, Barboza states, Los Angeles County
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents communities around the Exide Technologies plant, called
on Gov. Jerry Brown to appoint an independent expert to oversee the cleanup and a commission
to investigate the ordeal (1). Reaching out to individuals whos position overpower the

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corporations taking advantage of the unfortunate, increase the likelihood of arguing towards
rights and justice and receiving fair answers and proper solutions to the problems being
addressed. Barboza states, Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday called on the state to spend $176.6
million to speed up the testing and cleanup of potentially thousands of lead contaminated homes
surrounding a shuttered battery recycling plant in Vernon (1). Although Gov. Jerry Browns
solution contributes to a substantial boost of cleansing throughout the communities, I believe it
wont be as effective because residents who will need of their property to be cleaned up will
remain living under health threats. Instead, I suggest to open public housing for residents from
the communities being affected such as Vernon, Bell, Maywood, Huntington Park, and Boyle
Heights to stay while their properties are being fixed. Then, not only will the families live on
safer grounds but they will also breathe clean air living under a safe environment.
Social Issues appear to be more prevalent within poor communities because minorities
are often oblivious and misinformed about the changes that occur in their community. Being
uninformed about ones community and lacking engagement from residents to improve the
overall environment of which they live upon definitely has its consequences. For instance, if one
chooses to not participate in meetings held to discuss important matters regarding any upcoming
changes within communities, the residents voice/vote doesn't count. Most minorities don't
participate in such events because theyre often occupied coping with other factors that they face
on a regular basis. Such as, transportation, sufficient funds, work and family care.
Overall, although Exide Technologies has been officially been shut down, the fight and
journey for clean air and a safer environment hasn't come to an end. It continues to be a work in
progress. Regardless of it shutting down the lead contamination continues to grow and spread.

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The contamination continues to be a problem to restrict because there aren't sufficient funds to
clean up the areas. The lead contamination continues to be a problem yet to be solved and that
wont clearly fade away so easily because the hazardous chemicals released in the air will reflect
on the health of the residents in the communities of those affected. The pollution will strongly
affect our children, our future generations, only if the community allows it. The state has the
responsibility of moving them into safe homes where the air is cleaner to breathe and the soils
don't carry any hazardous chemicals. It is essential residents exposed to hazardous waste receive
answers long waited for and effective solutions.