Snapshot of Peoria's toxic releases: Industrial ‘neighbors’ say pollutants are controlled

January Community Word

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new Toxic Release Inventory shows companies’ data on industrial waste last year, and of all of Peoria’s zip codes, four have businesses that say they released between 12.6 tons to 6 pounds. (See box.)

Metro Peoria has 33 “TRI facilities,” says the EPA, which administers the annual reports of data provided by the companies themselves under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, passed in 1986.

The sites are in mostly low-income neighborhoods, and there’s been little public outcry about harmful substances in their midst. Objections to the proximity of some business or government plans – protests dubbed NIMBY, for “Not In My Back Yard” – have ranged from disapproval of a port at Chillicothe’s riverfront to opposition to changes in parks or proposals for subsidized housing.

Thousands of people live near these TRI sites, but there’s no indication of “environmental justice” concerns.

Tonyisha Harris of the Illinois Environmental Council says sometimes complaints emerge from marginalized neighborhoods.

“Environmental justice sets out to remove qualifiers such as race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status from being a predictor of pollution and toxic development,” she told the Community Word. “Oftentimes, these communities contribute the least to pollution but bear the burden of its effects.

“Racist policies like redlining and lax environmental enforcement or regulation allow for polluting industries to be concentrated in low-income communities,” she added.

The lack of concern may be due to residents moving to such neighborhoods after the factories were there, possibly contributing to lower property values, making homes more affordable for the less fortunate. Other reasons for a begrudging acceptance are little local organizing of residents who may be worried or economic concerns prioritized over public health.

“It depends on the community and the type of polluter,” Harris said. “Some coal communities may not fight back against a coal-fired power plant because it’s the primary source of income or jobs and contributes significantly to property-tax revenue. In these cases, the plant is the economic stimulator for the community and its removal would be far-reaching.”

Also, acquiescence might be because most such sites have existed for decades with no apparent problems, which can lead to tolerating risk.

Still, risk remains.

Local releases of toxic material have been controlled through regulated emissions or waste disposal.

Regardless, potential health effects of uncontrolled releases could be substantial. For example, the main substances released by these four sites are n-Hexane, ethylene glycol, zinc compounds, and manganese compounds. The EPA summarizes their dangers thusly: n-Hexane – neurological; ethylene glycol - developmental, renal, respiratory; zinc compounds – hematological, reproductive; and manganese compounds – neurological.

Details:

* n-Hexane is an irritant to eyes and skin, a cause of Central Nervous System depression, and can lead to dizziness, headaches, nausea and respiratory irritation, according to the National Library of Medicine, which also addresses

* ethylene glycol, a substance that also can cause “CNS depression (coma, hypotonia, eventually cerebral edema),” and renal failure;

* “large amounts of zinc can be harmful,” reports the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, causing stomach cramps, anemia and changes in cholesterol levels; and

* “exposure to manganese … can damage the lungs, liver and kidneys,” warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manganese fumes an lead to a neurological condition, manganism, with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.

 

Elsewhere, “communities do fight back against polluters,” Harris said. “Chicago has seen wins in this arena, such as the ban against petcoke [petroleum coke] or the delay of the General Irons permit [for its scrap-metal shredding operation]. Communities are either not given the opportunity to weigh in on developments in their community and learn about the polluting industry once it’s approved, or the public-comment period is often symbolic and community concerns aren't seriously considered in the permit approval process.”

 

Vantage Corn Processors, #1 Edmund St., 61602

The EPA’s analysis of Census data says its tract has more than 900 residents, about 95% of whom are low-income, 90% people of color and 90% children younger than 5.

Waste managed: 251,079 lbs.

Released: 25,209 lbs.

Main substance(s): n-Hexane

This facility ranks 546 out of 2,967 TRI facilities in the Chemicals Industry sector (with 1 being the highest risk, according to the EPA’s RSEI*)

Komatsu America, 2300 NE Adams St. 61603

Its tract has more than 1,300 residents, about 85% of whom are low-income, and 65% people of color.

Waste managed: 74,729 lbs.

Released: 7,020 lbs.

Main substance(s) ethylene glycol

This facility ranks 292 out of 879 TRI facilities in the Machinery Industry sector (1 = highest)

AZZ Galvanizing Services, 6718 W. Plank Rd., 61604

The Census shows its tract has more than 2,000 residents, about 55% of whom are low-income, and 75% seniors.

Waste managed: 243,665 lbs.

Released: 5,866 lbs.

Main substance(s): zinc compounds**

TMS International LLC, 7001 SW Adams St, 61607

Its tract has about 800 residents, about 90% of whom are low-income, and 65% people of color.

Waste managed: 6 lbs.

Released: 6 lbs.

Main substance: manganese compounds**

* RSEI is Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators, the EPA’s modeling tool based on air and water data about potential health-related impacts from toxic industrial releases.

** The EPA noted AZZ Galvanizing is one of 3,728 TRI facilities in the nation’s Fabricated Metals, Food Industry sector, and TMS International is one of 695 TRI facilities in the Hazardous Waste, Other industry sector(s), but does not rank risk for either company.