Contact Your State & Federal Representatives RE: Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Emissions in Lake County

Contact Your State & Federal Representatives RE: Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Emissions in Lake County

Last year it was made public that Ethylene Oxide is classified as a carcinogen.
 
Per the U.S. Department of Labor: Ethylene oxide (EtO) is produced in large volumes and is primarily used as an intermediate in the production of several industrial chemicals, the most notable of which is ethylene glycol. It is also used as a fumigant in certain agricultural products and as a sterilant for medical equipment and supplies. Unfortunately, EtO possesses several physical and health hazards that merit special attention. EtO is both flammable and highly reactive. Acute exposures to EtO gas may result in respiratory irritation and lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. Chronic exposure has been associated with the occurrence of cancer, reproductive effects, mutagenic changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization.
 
The group, Stop EtO in Lake County has been lobbying hard to stop the use of ETO in Lake County. Their efforts have resulted in Lake County taking the necessary step of testing for EtO releases into the atmosphere from two manufacturing plants in Lake County that utilize the gas.
 
The testing is still ongoing, but the preliminary readings and results have indicated there are emissions of EtO that far exceed the allowable emission levels, by as much as 25 to 50 times in certain locations at certain times of day, with certain wind patterns.
 
Lake County has no authority to do anything about this other than to educate you and lobby our State and Federal representatives on your behalf, because the power to make changes lies in the hands of state and federal EPA. The Sterigenics facility in Willowbrook was closed down this year due to high levels of emissions, but no such action has been taken here in Lake County to address the high emissions.
 
If this is a concern for you, please feel free to check out Stop EtO in Lake County, or participate in their rally this Friday at 6:30. Their leaders and members have been very forthcoming with information. They will also help you to figure out how you can contact your representatives to demand action.
 
Disclaimer: I am not a scientist by any means. My information is being passed on as a citizen who is concerned that a gas that has been linked to rare cancers, disproportionately affecting women and children, is being released into the air that Lake County breathes.  It is not my intent to cause needless alarm, however after reviewing the test results supplied by the Lake County Health Department, I am very concerned for my Lake County neighbors and residents and I will be contacting my State and Federal Representatives demanding actions be taken to make Lake County safe.  I hope you do the same. 

 

Click Here to view EtO Emissions Testing Results in Lake County.

Click Here to find out who your State and Federal Representatives are. 

Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Emissions Testing Results Lake County

Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Emissions Testing Results Lake County

Recent Updates

July 24, 2019 Update: Additional air monitoring results received

Both Medline and Vantage have conducted independent air monitoring during the month of June, some of which was done at sites also being monitored by the Health Department, the Village of Gurnee and the City of Waukegan. We have received one set of results from Medline, which can be viewed here:

Medline air monitoring results

We expect results from Vantage soon, and as the become available they will be posted here:

Vantage air monitoring results

July 22, 2019 Update: Additional air monitoring results received

The Health Department has received additional air monitoring results from samples collected on five separate days from June 14 to June 22, 2019 in Lake County.

June 21, 2019 Update: Initial air monitoring results received

The Health Department has received initial air monitoring results from samples collected on three separate days from June 6 to June 10, 2019 in Lake County. This initial data represents only three days of sampling, so conclusions about potential impacts to health cannot yet be made. The Health Department is sharing all results with the Village of Gurnee, City of Waukegan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) as the data becomes available. Updates will be provided to the public on this web page.

Please note that on certain days, not all monitoring locations are sampled. These days were randomly selected during the 30-day period. Samples collected on these days are in addition to the samples collected on the regularly scheduled days. On these random days, four monitoring sites are being sampled.

PRESS RELEASE: Initial Ethylene Oxide Air Monitoring Results Received

Updated July 22, 2019

Notes on sample results table:

  1. ND (No detect) = EtO was not detected at a level above the method detection limit of approximately 0.045 μg/m3
  2. Invalid = The test could not be conducted due to a failure of the sampling device
    Site # Location Sample Dates Measured Air Concentration
    μg/m3 ppb
    R1 O’Plaine Rd & Russell Ave, Gurnee June 6 – 7, 2019 0.12 0.068
    R2 7000 Washington Street, Gurnee June 6 – 7, 2019 0.15 0.082
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 6 – 7, 2019 0.21 0.12
    V2 SE corner Northwestern and Keith, Gurnee June 6 – 7, 2019 0.14 0.076
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 6 – 7, 2019 0.27 0.15
    V4 1200 Estes Drive, Gurnee June 6 – 7, 2019 0.19 0.11
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 6 – 7, 2019 0.21 0.11
    M2 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan June 6 – 7, 2019 0.12 0.068
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 6 – 7, 2019 6.8 3.8
    M4 FP access west of Green Bay Road, Waukegan June 6 – 7, 2019 0.15 0.081
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 7 – 8, 2019 0.11 0.062
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 7 – 8, 2019 0.61 0.34
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 7 – 8, 2019 0.18 0.1
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 7 – 8, 2019 10 5.6
    R1 O’Plaine Rd & Russell Ave, Gurnee June 9 – 10, 2019 0.13 0.07
    R2 7000 Washington Street, Gurnee June 9 – 10, 2019 0.11 0.062
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 9 – 10, 2019 0.17 0.093
    V2 SE corner Northwestern and Keith, Gurnee June 9 – 10, 2019 0.14 0.079
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 9 – 10, 2019 0.12 0.068
    V4 1200 Estes Drive, Gurnee June 9 – 10, 2019 0.13 0.07
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 9 – 10, 2019 0.21 0.12
    M2 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan June 9 – 10, 2019 0.15 0.081
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 9 – 10, 2019 2.4 1.3
    M4 FP access west of Green Bay Road, Waukegan June 9 – 10, 2019 0.28 0.16
    R1 O’Plaine Rd & Russell Ave, Gurnee June 12 – 13, 2019 0.095 0.053
    R2 7000 Washington Street, Gurnee June 12 – 13, 2019 0.12 0.065
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 12 – 13, 2019 0.19 0.11
    V2 SE corner Northwestern and Keith, Gurnee June 12 – 13, 2019 0.19 0.11
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 12 – 13, 2019 0.24 0.13
    V4 1200 Estes Drive, Gurnee June 12 – 13, 2019 0.32 0.18
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 12 – 13, 2019 0.60 0.33
    M2 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan June 12 – 13, 2019 0.31 0.17
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 12 – 13, 2019 0.43 0.24
    M4 FP access west of Green Bay Road, Waukegan June 12 – 13, 2019 0.41 0.23
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 14 – 15, 2019 ND ND
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 14 – 15, 2019 ND ND
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 14 – 15, 2019 4.31 2.39
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 14 – 15, 2019 ND ND
    R1 O’Plaine Rd & Russell Ave, Gurnee June 15 – 16, 2019 ND ND
    R2 7000 Washington Street, Gurnee June 15 – 16, 2019 0.16 0.0896
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 15 – 16, 2019 ND ND
    V2 SE corner Northwestern and Keith, Gurnee June 15 – 16, 2019 ND ND
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 15 – 16, 2019 1.10 0.608
    V4 1200 Estes Drive, Gurnee June 15 – 16, 2019 ND ND
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 15 – 16, 2019 2.06 1.14
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 15 – 16, 2019 0.14 0.077
    M2 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan June 15 – 16, 2019 ND ND
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 15 – 16, 2019 1.24 0.686
    M4 FP access west of Green Bay Road, Waukegan June 15 – 16, 2019 Invalid Invalid
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 17 – 18, 2019 ND ND
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 17 – 18, 2019 ND ND
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 17 – 18, 2019 ND ND
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 17 – 18, 2019 5.38 2.98
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 17 – 18, 2019 5.8 3.2
    R1 O’Plaine Rd & Russell Ave, Gurnee June 18 – 19, 2019 ND ND
    R2 7000 Washington Street, Gurnee June 18 – 19, 2019 1.28 0.708
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 18 – 19, 2019 ND ND
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 18 – 19, 2019 0.23 0.13
    V2 SE corner Northwestern and Keith, Gurnee June 18 – 19, 2019 ND ND
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 18 – 19, 2019 ND ND
    V4 1200 Estes Drive, Gurnee June 18 – 19, 2019 ND ND
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 18 – 19, 2019 ND ND
    M2 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan June 18 – 19, 2019 0.24 0.135
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 18 – 19, 2019 3.16 1.75
    M4 FP access west of Green Bay Road, Waukegan June 18 – 19, 2019 ND ND
    R1 O’Plaine Rd & Russell Ave, Gurnee June 21 – 22, 2019 0.5 0.277
    R2 7000 Washington Street, Gurnee June 21 – 22, 2019 ND ND
    V1 2000 Belle Plaine Ave, Gurnee June 21 – 22, 2019 0.89 0.495
    V2 SE corner Northwestern and Keith, Gurnee June 21 – 22, 2019 ND ND
    V3 3886 Morrison Drive, Gurnee June 21 – 22, 2019 ND ND
    V4 1200 Estes Drive, Gurnee June 21 – 22, 2019 ND ND
    M1 SE corner of N. Palmieri and Staben, Waukegan June 21 – 22, 2019 ND ND
    M2 3106 Belvidere Road, Waukegan June 21 – 22, 2019 ND ND
    M3 Pulaski Road and S. Shields Drive, Waukegan June 21 – 22, 2019 5.56 3.08
    M4 FP access west of Green Bay Road, Waukegan June 21 – 22, 2019 ND ND
    M4 FP access west of Green Bay Road, Waukegan June 21 – 22, 2019 <0.072 <0.040

Lake County Air Monitoring Wind Rose Maps

The maps posted below show the monitoring locations, air monitoring results by day, and a wind rose, which shows the wind information for each sampling day (i.e., wind direction, intensity, and percentage of time wind was blowing from the direction indicated).

Note: With the assistance of US EPA and Illinois EPA, we are currently reviewing the wind rose data regarding wind intensity (speed). If it is determined that corrections are required, they will be posted to this site, along with an explanation.

Wind roses are very important in determining the potential impact of a source of pollution. For more information, please see the U.S. EPA’s How to Read a Wind Rose (PDF).

Lake County Air Monitoring Lab Reports

Note: In the samples report ERG Jun 14_22 eto, samples from Jun 21 – 22, 2019 indicate a “sampled” date of June 22, 2019. The convention has been to report the date the sampling began as the “sampled” date. A corrected report will be posted soon, indicating the “sampled” date as June 21, 2019.

https://www.lakecountyil.gov/4193/Vantage-Independent-EtO-Monitoring