Thread by @propublica

1/ We created the most detailed map of cancer-causing industrial air pollution ever published.

It took many journalists and two years, but we found over 1,000 “hot spots.”

Here’s how to use it 👇

2/ You can type in any address, ZIP code or city.

We’re going to use “Houston” as an example.

The map tells us that the average estimated cancer risk from industrial pollution in Houston is 1/29,000.

That’s already pretty high. But in many parts of the city, it’s much higher.

3/ You can zoom and click to see where estimated risk is highest. Here, the estimated cancer risk is as high as 1/2,600.

That means for every 2,600 people living in this area, there would likely be one additional case of cancer after a lifetime of exposure.

It adds up.

4/ You can drag the map around to look at other areas.

But you can also click on a specific hot spot from this menu at the top of the map.

5/ Here’s a closer look at four hot spots:
Radford, VA
Decatur, AL
Memphis, TN
Baton Rouge, LA

6/ Try it out yourself. Look up your hometown using the tool and tell us what you find:
projects.propublica.org/toxmap/

7/ And if you live or work near an industrial facility, help us investigate by getting in touch with our reporters: propublica.org/tips/pollution/

8/ Have questions about what this means for you? We answered common questions with the help of health experts and residents who have lived in hot spots for decades.
propublica.org/article/can-ai…

9/ Want to read our first story from this investigation?

Learn about the “sacrifice zones” where the EPA allows polluters to flood certain neighborhoods with carcinogens: propublica.org/article/toxmap…

10/ Interested in where our data comes from and how we built this map, down to the equations?

We’ve got you. (Just a heads up, it gets very granular.)
propublica.org/article/how-we…

11/ And to learn more about how ProPublica uses data to power its reporting, sign up for our data newsletter: propublica.org/newsletters/th…