Plastic, chemical pollution plaguing Texas waterways; Freeport plant ranks high for bad wastewater pollution

Plastic chemical manufacturing plants line the Gulf Coast and create concerns for wildlife and human health.

The non-profit Environmental Integrity Project analyzed 70 plants across the United States. Their research released this month found that the Dow facility in Freeport ranked high for several chemicals in its wastewater.

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So, why should you be concerned?

The same water many people enjoy fishing and swimming in is being contaminated with harmful chemicals that can have carcinogen side effects, create algae blooms and produce solid by-products that can clog wildlife and water systems.

KPRC 2′s Daji Aswad spoke with a local volunteer who cleans up a local beach that is impacted by pollution.

We also heard from the Environmental Integrity Project about the regulations they want in place to prevent pollution.