Episode 92. ATSDR: Jaimi Dowdell

About this episode

Jaimi Dowdell returns to discuss the failures of a federal agency in protecting communities from pollution.

In Episode 62, I interviewed two Reuters journalists about how industry and government in the United States use conservation easements to avoid rigorous cleanup of contaminated sites. Today, one of those journalists, Jaimi Dowdell, is back to discuss how a federal agency responsible for community health assessments has a history of failing to protect the communities that seek its aid. Jaimi was part of the Reuters team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting. Today we discuss the Reuters special report published in August 2024 and entitled, "How a US health agency became a shield for polluters."

People in this episode

Host: Frank A. von Hippel

Guest: Jaimi Dowdell

Topics covered

• community health
• environmental protection
• journalism
• pollution
• government accountability

Keywords

• ATSDR
• Jaimi Dowdell
• Reuters
• polluters
• community health assessments
• 2021 Pulitzer Prize
• environmental cleanup

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Reuters, ATSDR, US health agency

Books & works: How a US health agency became a shield for polluters

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