The EPA released a report on data from 2002 that listed the areas of the country where cancer rates were the highest because of toxic air. I did expect LA, but not Madison County, IL. This story by  Kim McGuire of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH presents a very balanced view of the problem, the probable causes, and includes the voices of environmentalists and representatives from U.S. Steel, as its coke plant seemed to be the big offender.

“What contributed to the modeled results, they believe, were an industrial source, the coke ovens at U.S. Steel,” said Jim Ross, director of the IEPA’s air pollution control bureau.

Ross said industrial sources account for about 25 percent of the air pollution factored into Madison County’s risk assessment, while cars and trucks account for about 35 percent. What’s known as background emissions make up about 45 percent, he said.

He also said the data from the EPA’s assessment were from 2002 and that the coke ovens have been idle since earlier this year.

via EPA finds air pollution in Granite City poses high cancer risk – STLtoday.com.

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