The EPA took action earlier this month to allow cleanup work at some toxic Superfund sites to slow down or even stop during the coronavirus pandemic.

The agency did this to protect the workers cleaning up these sites, who may not be able to social distance on the job or to even find the necessary protective gear. But the move also negatively affects the neighborhoods near Superfund sites, many of which contain a disproportionate amount of public housing.

On this week's episode of Parts Per Billion, reporter Sylvia Carignan explains what this Superfund order means and why these sites tend to be located in low income communities.