50 Years After The Bunker Hill Mine Fire Caused One Of The Largest Lead-Poisoning Cases In Us History, Idaho's Silver Valley Is Still At Risk
At the time, the prices of lead and silver were climbing toward all-time highs. Rather than wait for new filters and repairs, company officials kep...
At the time, the prices of lead and silver were climbing toward all-time highs. Rather than wait for new filters and repairs, company officials kept the mine running. They increased production , bypassed the filtration steps and, for eleven months , dumped noxigases directly into the surrounding area. Then, horses in the area began dying . When data on children's blood lead levels began to arrive in September 1974, one year after the fire, the results were shocking. The fire became one of the largest single lead-poisoning events in U.