As millions of gallons of oil continue to leak into the Gulf of Mexico — killing wildlife, contaminating waters and threatening the fragile ecosystem — it’s hard to determine the worst aspect of the disaster. Perhaps it’s the fact that it was preventable.

 

Most environmental disasters — earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and wildfires — lie outside human control, but some of the world’s most devastating catastrophes were caused by people. As mankind continues to pursue fuel, food and building materials, we’re polluting ecosystems and destroying the planet we depend on for survival. Here’s a look at the 10 worst man-made environmental disasters in U.S. history, because when it comes to environmental destruction, the blood — or oil — is often on our hands.