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May 3, 2001, marked the tenth anniversary of one of Mexico's worst pesticide disasters--the explosion of the Anaversa pesticide formulation plant located near downtown Cordoba, Veracruz.
In 1991, the plant exploded sending 38,000 liters of deadly pesticides into thick toxic clouds blanketing nearby neighborhoods. Among the pesticides were 18,000 liters of methyl parathion, 8,000 liters of paraquat, and 3,000 liters of 2,4-D. With the plant burning and a 30,000 liter tank of solvent about to explode, the all-volunteer fire fighters doused the fire with thousands of gallons of water. The water soon turned into a bright green toxic stream that ran through the streets for days contaminating the Blanco River and at...