Southeast Chicago Study: An Assessment of Environmental Pollution and Public Health Impacts

摘要

Southeast Chicago, in the vicinity of Lake Calumet, is a heavily industrialized region that has a long history of serving as a disposal area for a wide variety of industrial, commercial, and residential wastes. In the late fall of 1982, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) was asked by a citizens group, Irondalers to Abolish the Chemical Threat (I-ACT), to conduct a study of environmental pollution in this area with special emphasis directed toward waste disposal practices. The final scope of work included a broad range of environmental concerns relating to air, water and land pollution issues. This scope of work was reviewed and approved by the I-ACT liaison committee. Additionally, as part of the overall effort, an analysis of available health statistics was performed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to determine if cancer rates or the number of birth defects occurring in the area are unusual. The report summarizes the results of these study efforts.