Source: Chicago Tribune

    Jon Hilkevitch's Getting Around (edited)

Date: September 23, 2002

Copyright © 2002, Chicago Tribune.

O'Hare cancer link?

North suburbs that have large Jewish populations may suffer increased incidences of cancer illnesses caused by toxic emissions from airplanes, claims a new study released by an environmental group opposed to expanding O'Hare International Airport.

Jack Saporito, head of the Alliance of Residents Concerning O'Hare, said the study found that Evanston, Glenview, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Skokie and Wilmette are among suburbs downwind from O'Hare that "appear to be especially prone to such negative impacts. Those communities have large Jewish populations that appear to have a genetic predisposition to certain types of cancer."

The group's findings have not been supported by other research. Recent studies conducted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Public Health have found that the air quality around O'Hare is comparable to the toxicity levels caused by a wide range of pollutants in other parts of Chicago, and similar to emissions in other major urban areas. Saporito's group is now asking the U.S. EPA to investigate.