Cement's Dirty Secret

From: KQED
Series: QUEST
Length: 05:05

What's coming out of that local cement plant? Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Cement's Dirty Secret
From: KQED

Radio226cement160_small Here's something you almost never think about: Cement. But this most everyday of substances is suddenly in the spotlight, the subject of a national lawsuit and many local battles. That's because cement kilns produce large amounts of mercury, as well as greenhouse gases. But what's the alternative? Quest visits a California cement kiln, finds out how the stuff is made (and takes a bunch of photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/kqedquest/sets/72157604383600404) and reports on California and national efforts to clean up a long-overlooked industry. Oh, and find out about cement kilns near you, here: http://www.earthjustice.org/library/maps/cement-kiln-interactive-map.html

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Piece Description

Here's something you almost never think about: Cement. But this most everyday of substances is suddenly in the spotlight, the subject of a national lawsuit and many local battles. That's because cement kilns produce large amounts of mercury, as well as greenhouse gases. But what's the alternative? Quest visits a California cement kiln, finds out how the stuff is made (and takes a bunch of photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/kqedquest/sets/72157604383600404) and reports on California and national efforts to clean up a long-overlooked industry. Oh, and find out about cement kilns near you, here: http://www.earthjustice.org/library/maps/cement-kiln-interactive-map.html

Broadcast History

aired on KQED local news, during Morning edition B segment - April 7 2008

Transcript

JOHN Ok, So this is where it all starts this is the quarry.
We?re standing above a half-mile wide, thousand-foot deep hole, dug into the dusty red rock in the hills above Cupertino. Hanson Cement has been mining limestone out of this spot for decades. The company's John Giovanola.
JOHN Right here, Right in this pit. We?ve been digging this hole for over 70 years.
The first cement was made here in 1939 to help build Shasta Dam. Since then, a steady demand for roads, factories, and houses has kept it in operation nearly round the clock.
Ambi: fade up to noisier fx - trucks backing up - rumble of kiln
After it?s carved out of the quarry, limestone is hauled by conveyor belt to this spot, a long cylindrical pipe called the kiln.
JOHN We?re about 50 feet away and you can feel the heat from the kiln.
Temperatures inside can reach 3000 degrees farenheit.
JOHN It?s a steel shel...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

Suggested host intro:

Here?s an industry you don?t often think about: cement. But across the country, cement kilns are major contributors both of mercury and greenhosue gases. But is there anything we can do about it? From KQED in San Francisco, Amy Standen reports.

NOTE: LOCALIZE THIS BY FINDING THE CEMENT PLANT NEAR YOU: http://www.earthjustice.org/library/maps/cement-kiln-interactive-map.html