The EPA Wants to Get Rid of Good Smells in Chicago

Luckily, in the winter, Chicago's air quality measures in the Good range according to Air Now, a division of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Those brisk Canadian winds and lake-effect snows are good for something besides topping gray heaps with new white flakes. But Chicago still faces its share of air pollution related problems.

Over the past six years, Chicago has received multiple Brownfields Grants to clean up and revitalize previously hazardous locations. Southeast Chicago in particular has benefited from industrial and main street cleanup efforts. 92nd and Burley alone required a two hundred thousand dollar grant to clean up after a gas station, dry cleaner, and furniture factory. "Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment." (EPA, 2005)

The EPA awarded five million dollars in grant funds to four US organizations to research and reduce truck idling, a major contributor to roadside air pollution. With more than six major interstate highways flowing through Chicago proper, traffic related air pollution is a real concern. Distribution contamination seems to be the major problem in converting diesel fuel to ultra low sulfur content. It seems the tanks holding current, high sulfur fuel will taint the new low sulfur fuel through multiple refillings until sufficiently diluted.

Those wonderful Teflon pans and Scotchgard carpets you love could make you ill or worse. The latest advice is, don't be around when a fire breaks out in your home, and don't burn food wrappers (especially candy and French fries). Northwestern Professor, James Carlini, also warns us not to be in downtown Chicago office buildings within thirty seconds of a fire starting. Chemicals used to create a variety of modern products and coat the wires in millions of miles of plenum cable running through office buildings in Chicago and across the US, when heated no higher than the average fry pan, release toxic gases that can kill in seconds. He claims the EPA has known about this problem since before the chemical was ever used on household and industrial products.

The Environmental Protection Agency is not entirely without a sense of irony when it comes to local air pollution. The EPA is making Blommer Chocolate Co., near the intersection of I90 and I55, clean up its chocolate scented emissions. Most local residents and regional commuters will sorely miss its calming brownie batter smell, claims president of the company, Rick Blommer. At least one person didn't like it and filed a complaint with authorities mandated to act.