Pollution's Poisoned Legacy: Pacific Northwest Serial Killers and Toxic Smelters
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Resources & Recommendations
Books
- "Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in a Time of Serial Killers" by Caroline Fraser - This book explores a potential connection between environmental pollution, specifically from the smelting industry, and the rise of serial killing in the 1970s and 80s, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.
- "Prairie Fires" by Caroline Fraser - This Pulitzer Prize-winning book is a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of the "Little House on the Prairie" series, and is noted for its environmental themes.
People Mentioned
- Caroline Fraser (Author) - Author of "Murderland," "Prairie Fires," and a biography of the founder of the Christian Science Church. She was interviewed about her book "Murderland" and her research into environmental pollution and serial killers.
- Ted Bundy (Serial Killer) - Infamous serial killer whose first confirmed murders occurred near Caroline Fraser's childhood home in the 1970s. His presence in the Pacific Northwest is a key focus of "Murderland."
- Gary Ridgway (Serial Killer) - Another serial killer mentioned in the context of growing up in the Tacoma area, an area with high lead exposure from the smelter.
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (Author) - Author of the "Little House on the Prairie" children's book series, subject of Caroline Fraser's book "Prairie Fires."
Organizations & Institutions
- ASARCO (Mining and Smelting Company) - A company that operated giant smoke stacks across the country since the late 1800s, heavily implicated in environmental pollution, particularly in Tacoma, Washington.
- Department of Ecology in Washington State - This department published a GIS map showing the plume of pollution caused by the ASARCO smelter in Tacoma, which inspired Caroline Fraser's research.
- EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) - This agency's creation and the passage of the Clean Air Act made it difficult for smelters to operate legally, leading to the closure of many plants, including ASARCO's Tacoma facility.
Websites & Online Resources
- GIS map (Department of Ecology in Washington State) - A map showing the plume of pollution from the ASARCO smelter in Tacoma, allowing users to see pollution levels for specific addresses in the Seattle/Tacoma area.
- 99pi.org - The website for the 99% Invisible podcast, where listeners can find links to past episodes and the podcast's Discord server.
Other Resources
- Mercer Island Floating Bridge - A unique floating bridge in Washington State, discussed as a metaphor for engineering mistakes and human error due to its dangerous design elements (the "bulge" and reversible lane) that led to numerous fatalities.