East St. Louis, IL: A Classic Case of Environmental Injustice

The Monsanto Corporation W.G. Krummrich facility and Cerro Copper Products Company facility operations have impacted the health and property value of the surrounding community of East St. Louis. Monsanto was the sole domestic producer of PCBs in the United States. Cerro Copper's operations included secondary copper metal production, which creates dioxin/furan emissions because an abundance of chlorinated plastics in the copper scrap is used as feed material.

An extensive file review of government documents and industrial records was carried out to determine historical emissions from both facilities. Community exposure to PCBs and dioxins was evaluated using the EPA preferred air dispersion modeling program, AERMOD. Attic dust sampling of PCB and dioxin levels in homes and churches was carried out to corroborate the model. A literature review analyzed the health effects associated with PCBs and dioxins, and medical monitoring characterized the specific health problems of residents in the community.

The study found highly elevated concentrations of dioxins and PCBs throughout the community, resulting in an increased risk of developing adverse health effects and a significant reduction of property values. PCBs and dioxins were associated with many of the specific health problems found in the community, including cancer.

East St. Louis is a classic example of an environmental justice case. Over 97% of the population is African American, with 35.1% earning below the poverty level. Many residents have had no choice but to live close to the facilities all of their lives, resulting in significant damage to their health and property.