Lake Co. Health Dept.: An Update On Addressing Emissions Concerns

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Health Department is updating the public on how their concerns surrounding ethylene oxide emissions are being addressed. According to a release, the Lake County Health Department learned of concerns on Nov. 2, 2018, which were centered on ethylene oxide emissions reported to be coming from Medline Industries in Waukegan and Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee. According to a release, the health department immediately reached out to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), as the department said the two agencies have sole jurisdiction for regulating emissions.

The health department said in a release it's maintained regular communication with the two agencies to better understand the situation and express the public’s desire for appropriate air monitoring, along with "timely and transparent communication."

Lake County Health Department officials have since visited Medline and Vantage to gather information and convey the public’s concerns

The health department, the Village of Gurnee and City of Waukegan are taking measures to make sure air monitoring will take place, and has also urged the U.S. EPA to conduct a town hall meeting in Lake County, the department said.

The Health Department said it will continue to use all available resources to protect the health of Lake County residents and will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Find more information from the EPA here.