Here you'll find information on damage that has been done to the physical environment at Altgeld Gardens, as well as the potential health effects that this damage can cause. 

Altgeld Gardens, home to almost 1,000 Chicago Housing Authority residents, is located immediately north west of a large dredge disposal site sued by the Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1930’s.  Also, Altgeld Gardens is located on and to the west of the Pullman Sewage Farm, a site that has been saturated with industrial liquid wastes.  In addition, parts of Altgeld Gardens where constructed upon fill material of unknown composition.

 In the midst of Altgeld Gardens, there is an area of PCB contamination first identified in 1984 by US Environmental Protection Agency and the Chicago Housing Authority. The presence of this contamination was not disclosed to local residents until 1995 when People for Community Recovery submitted a Freedom of Information Act. Disturbed groundwater conditions in the area lead to removal of drinking fountains in public areas and the closing of nearby private wells. Because of high water table, this contaminated ground water discharges into several open and accessible low lying areas throughout Altgeld Gardens.  These areas are characterized by standing water. 

Longtime residents of Altgeld Gardens describe observation of past dumping in the neighborhood while today; several areas in the neighborhood continue to show signs of random dumping.  Soil samples which have been taken within Altgeld Gardens reveal elevated levels of PAHs, pesticides, heavy metals and PCBs, and lead. There is direct, daily contact with contaminated soil which enters the body through inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact. 

Reports of skin irritation, asthma and other health problems are prevalent. 

 Soil Contamination

One important example of contamination at Altgeld Gardens is a sample taken at the south end of a courtyard surrounded by Chicago Housing Authority buildings.  This area is open, accessible and clearly residential.

This table reflects PAHs found in the sample:

The existence of PAHs in Altgeld Gardens soil corresponds with a recurrent complaint made by loc residents—skin irritation.  All PAHs have similar effects on human health. Non-carcinogenic PAH's are know skin irritants. Carcinogenic PAHs are also skin irritants in addition to having an immunosuppressive effect. 

PAHs are not the only contaminants of concern, nor is skin irritation the only recurrent complaint of residents.  However, we chose to highlight this example to emphasize that resident concerns are justifiable.

In reviewing the results of the 1990 ₤51, the regional supervisor of the Illinois Department of Public Health stated that additional soil sampling is recommended is areas where children play and bare soil is present. The information concerning soil at Altgeld Gardens then available to the regional supervisor provided enough basis for concern to justify further focused testing on soil areas where children were playing.

 Groundwater Contamination

In his preliminary assessment done in 1967, Richard Lange notes that eight private wells in the area were abandoned due to groundwater contamination.  Several wells in that adjacent forest preserve had also been removed from service. Since then, because groundwater is not used as a source of drinking water, little effort has been made to characterize the nature and extent of groundwater contamination.  There have been no evaluations of the risks posed by direct contact with the contaminated groundwater.  Residents come in contact with this water on a daily basis due to several low lying ditches with persistent standing water. 

 Hidden Information

Community concerns also arise form the process through which soil contamination in Altgeld Gardens is being characterized.  Residents are concerned that information in the possession of CHA, HUD, ISPA, USACE, USEPA or other public agencies in not being assembled, integrated, and made available to residents.  The example of the hidden PCB contamination only heightens residents’ concerns that public agencies are not making this information available to people living in Altgeld Gardens. 

 Health Survey at Altgeld Gardens

During the early part of 1992, volunteer public experts from the University of Illinois School of Public Health designed a health survey for residents at Altgeld Gardens.  Health surveyors were trained to administer the surveys by a UIC toxicologist and by Claretian Medical Center.  The survey identified 200 randomly selected apartments in Altgeld Gardens.  Ultimately, the residents of 197 apartments, representing 835 residents, were included in the survey.  The residents were asked 27 specific yes or no questions such as “Have any women in your household been told by a doctor that they have asthma?” 

The results of this survey were then compiled by Dr. Robert Ginsburg, a UIC toxicologist and independently reviewed by Dr. Herbert White Jr. M.D. M.P.H., the regional medical director of occupational and environmental medicine at St. James Hospital in Chicago Heights.  According to Dr. White, the most disturbing finding of the survey was that more than 50% of 270 reported pregnancies resulted in miscarriages, stillbirths, premature babies or babies who required special medical care due to birth defects.  The also revealed a greater incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In addition,   32% of men and 20% of women have asthma while 68% of the homes surveyed stated that a member of that home experienced health problems (for example, skin rashes) that disappeared when they left Altgeld Gardens. 

Click here for more information on Superfund Sites surrounding Altgeld Gardens