Occupational Exposure to Industrial Lead in Omaha

From the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, Omaha faced significant challenges related to industrialization and lead exposure, leading to its designation as a Superfund site. In its race to industrialize, workers were needed to operate these new sites. As a consequence of this industrialization of the early 1900s, many of these workers became exposed to lead over time, depending on the industry they worked in. By examining the possible sources of occupational lead exposure, we hope to illustrate some of the extremely significant point sources of industrial lead, an area that still has incredibly pervasive effects today in the community. This StoryMap will explore and map every possible point source of lead pollution relating to occupational lead exposure, specifically focusing on the years 1922, 1932, and 1942. By digitizing, visualizing, and analyzing the range of lead-related industries in the Omaha area, we intend to uncover and document every source of industrial lead during these years to provide a comprehensive set of locations that exposed Omaha workers to lead in some capacity.