Educational Resources

The science behind
the disaster

Clear, accessible explanations of PCBs, PFAS, and chemical contamination — for educators, activists, and anyone who wants to understand what happened, and why it still matters.

What are PCBs?

Polychlorinated biphenyls — PCBs — are synthetic chemicals once heralded as revolutionary. Stable, fire-resistant, and endlessly versatile, they were used in insulation, electronics, paints, and countless industrial products. But the same durability that made them useful means they resist breaking down, accumulating in soil, water, and living tissue for generations.

Aroclor: the brand behind the disaster

Monsanto marketed its PCBs under the name “Aroclor,” aggressively promoting their stability and versatility. Internal reports dating back to 1930 show the company studied these chemicals closely — even as production expanded and the risks became clearer.

The cost to human health

PCBs accumulate silently in the body, where they have been linked to cancers, immune disorders, and developmental problems. Even after production ceased, their legacy persists — lingering in the earth and in the bloodstreams of the people who live above it.

PFAS: the forever chemicals

Anniston's story is not only history. Today the community faces new threats from PFAS — a class of “forever chemicals” that, like PCBs before them, resist breaking down and build up over time. The film follows that throughline: the collision between progress, profit, and public health repeats.