The McAllen Plume: Participatory Action Research on a Serious Environmental Hazard in South Texas

• In Event: Participatory Action Research in Green Criminology

Abstract

A 33 acre expanding plume of petroleum chemicals, including benzene, one of the largest in the U.S., underlies a working class section in the mainly Tejano city of McAllen, Texas, causing leukemia and other health hazards, including risk of explosion as happened in Guadalajara in 1992 with a similar plume. Many living on the plume are unaware of it or its hazards. A group of students and others have joined together to archive and study court case materials and canvass the area to find out what the residents know about it, inform them of it, and facilitate community action. Social disorganization and collective efficacy theories form a basis for understanding the lack of action on this issue and for developing strategies to help stimulate political efficacy in pressing mitigation of the hazard from responsible parties and governmental agencies tasked with cleaning up such hazards.

Authors

• Lynn Vincentnathan, University of Texas - Pan American

• Sarah Rose Marie Chavez, University of Texas - Pan American

• S. George Vincentnathan, University of Texas - Pan American