By Gitte Laasby, Post-Tribune staff writer
MERRILLVILLE -- Residents in parts of Lake County are breathing toxic air pollution that exposes them to the eighth-highest risk of cancer in the nation, according to an analysis by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released Wednesday.
The risk in some areas of Lake County is 609 in 1 million -- nearly 17 times the national average of 36 in 1 million if you're exposed to the 2002 level of pollution over a lifetime.
EPA said 2 million people -- less than 1 percent of the total U.S. population -- have an increased cancer risk of greater than 100 in a million. That means that if 1 million people breathed air with similar concentrations over their lifetime, about 100 additional people would be expected to develop cancer because of their exposure to the pollution.
The analysis is based on 2002 air emissions data and estimates health risks from breathing air toxics. The National-Scale Air Toxics Assessments helps federal, state and local governments identify areas and specific pollutants for further evaluation to better understand risks they may pose.
Air toxics are of concern because they are known to or are suspected of causing cancer and other serious health problems, including birth defects. The report assessed 180 air toxics plus diesel particulate matter from stationary sources of all sizes and from mobile sources such as cars, trucks, buses and construction equipment.
Nationwide, benzene was the largest contributor to the increased cancer risks.
In Northwest Indiana, hydrogen chloride (a gas used for cleaning, pickling and refining) was the substance emitted the most -- about 1,133 tons in Lake County and 502 tons in Porter County. It can irritate the throat in the short term and exposure to high levels can cause fluids in the lungs and even death, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Second-most in Lake County was toluene (a liquid that occurs naturally in crude oil and is produced in the process of making gasoline, but also comes from car exhaust, paint thinners, nail polish and lacquers and affects the nervous system) at 1,117 tons. Third was xylenes (a sweet-smelling liquid occurring naturally in petroleum and coal tar that can cause dizziness, confusion and changes in sense of balance) at 776 tons.
EPA stressed that the study provides "broad estimates of risk over geographic areas of the country and not definitive risks to specific individuals."
"The results are best used to prioritize pollutants and areas for further study, not as the sole basis for regulation or risk reduction activities," EPA said in a press release.
Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health programs with the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, said residents can use the information to try to reduce the risk they face from air pollution by talking to polluters responsible and pressuring them into reducing their emissions. He said EPA may also use the information as a basis for new regulations.
"EPA comes out with specific rules and regulations for industry and industry segments," he said. "If one industry segment seems to be causing a lot of problems, EPA may say it makes sense to focus on that first before we tackle other stuff because we get the biggest bang for our buck by spending our money there. That's one thing EPA could do and probably what they will do."
EPA said since the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, air toxic emissions have decreased by 40 percent.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.