It’s the politics of pollution as giant corporations manipulate the system to delay environmental reform, endangering the lives of people all over the world for increased profits. “Toxic Soup” shares the stories of everyday folks fighting to keep their blood, water and air safe from pollution.

Wilmington, Delaware

In Parkersburg, West Virginia, school teacher Joe Kiger uncovers C8, an unregulated chemical, in his community’s drinking water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, C8 can be found in 96 percent of Americans’ blood. Across the river in Ohio journalist Callie Lyons takes the case public.

In Institute, WV, an explosion at the Bayer plant kills two plant workers and comes within 80 feet of a stockpile of MIC, the chemical responsible for the world’s worst industrial accident in Bhopal, India, which has resulted in the deaths of over 20,000 people to date.

In Louisville, KY, west-end resident Eboni Cochran petitions city council to set standardized operating procedures for chemical leak and odor investigations in the Rubbertown district. She has been petitioning for standardized operating procedures since 2003.

In eastern Kentucky, nationally known radiation safety officer Wade Smith takes us on a tour of Ashland’s radioactive oil fields, where local residents are diagnosed with brain tumors at alarming rates. Rodney Hamilton’s house was constructed in part with used oil drilling pipe resold by Ashland Oil, pipe that turned out to be radioactive, forcing Rodney’s family to abandon their home over ten years ago. At a community meeting in Red Bush, KY, environmental attorney Kevin Thompson discusses the latest legal setbacks in his case against Ashland.

Marietta, Ohio

In Williamson, WV, pastor Larry Brown exposes dangerous toxins and chemicals in local well water due to Massey Energy’s negligent disposal of coal slurry. Larry’s community well water was contaminated with arsenic, lead, manganese, barium, beryllium, strontium, and uranium. Meanwhile, Massey CEO and Williamson native Don Blankenship took home $19.7 million in 2008.

Outside Arlington, VA, Vicky Debold, who holds doctorates in nursing and public health, questions whether or not her son’s autism is the result of a reaction between his vaccines and the manmade chemical soup in his bloodstream. According to the CDC, more than 148 industrial chemicals lurk in the blood of the average American.

Along the way we crash the DuPont annual shareholders meeting, march with autism advocate Jim Carrey in Washington DC, pull a political prank on Hillary Clinton, interview filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, and ask Bill Clinton about the connection between chemicals and autism.

Director Rory Owen Delaney pranks Hillary Clinton.

Radiation Safety Officer Wade Smith guides us through the Martha Oil Fields.