*** UPDATED x1 *** Worst Rauner headline ever?
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ouch!…
“DuPage cancer risk linked to Rauner” has to rank right up there as one of the worst headlines the guy has ever received.
* The online story’s hed is less harsh, but still not great: “High cancer risk in southeast DuPage County linked to company co-owned by Rauner’s former firm.” From the piece…
Two low-slung industrial buildings, tucked behind a Target store in west suburban Willowbrook, are about as nondescript as they come. For years, they have been home to Sterigenics International, a company that has quietly gone about its business of fumigating medical instruments, pharmaceutical drugs and food to kill bacteria and pests.
But a new federal study is putting a bright spotlight on the company, finding that people living nearby face some the nation’s highest cancer risks from toxic air pollution.
A gas used by the company, ethylene oxide, is far more dangerous than previously thought, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In one census tract near the plant, the EPA estimates the risk of cancer is more than nine times the national average.
Another federal agency concluded the cancer risks could be significantly higher.
Federal officials began investigating Sterigenics last year after surrounding communities popped out on a national map of health hazards from breathing toxic chemicals.
You have to scroll six paragraphs down to find the first mention of the governor’s former firm.
* However, this is from the Willowbrook Village website…
The emissions of ethylene oxide from the Sterigenics International, Inc. facility in Willowbrook, IL are not an immediate threat to public health and are not considered to be an emergency situation. ATSDR recommended to U.S. EPA that actions be taken to reduce emissions of ethylene oxide from this facility to protect the public from long-term exposures that could harm their health. […]
The highest measured levels of ethylene oxide in those areas were about 1,000 times lower than levels associated with cancer risks in scientific studies of workers with industrial exposure to EtO.
Emphasis was in the original.
…Adding… Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove)…
“The residents of Willowbrook and I have deep concerns, and many questions, about the recently released toxicity report from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) regarding the air quality in our community. The health and well-being of our residents is my number one concern and priority. Therefore, I have demanded that Sterigenics and government agencies involved in this matter attend the public forum being held Wednesday night so we can have all our questions answered. I am pleased all parties have agreed to attend, and I would encourage residents with questions to attend as well. It is vital that we have all the information available so we can best mitigate this issue in order to reduce any long-term impact on our community. We cannot delay, we must act now.”
*** UPDATE *** The governor was asked about the story today…
- 13THONE - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 9:32 am:
Rauner running for re-election.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 9:33 am:
I guess the Ferro reign is finally over. No way this headline runs if he’s still there.
Hope.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 9:45 am:
Hmmmm. Reporter checks GovJunk investments what a bold initiative. Perhaps this could be a trend. Guess it must be true because last GovJunk investment to catch heat (ownership of private ICE jail) we saw rapid response from “blind trust” data. This also build support for the efforts to roll all those nasty regs —not.
- Albany Park Patriot - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 9:46 am:
Yeah, the village that relies on taxes from a corporation is going to be super critical of that corporation.
- Driveby - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 9:52 am:
“DuPage cancer risked linked to teachers’ pension.” It might say that, too, since TRS and who knows else are invested in GTCR.
- Just sayin - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 9:53 am:
The Trib is as far right as they come. Don’t blame Madigan this time.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 9:54 am:
Scientifically, I get why they say this is not an emergency, meaning the need to evacuate, but with a cancer rate 9x normal, I would surely be putting up a “for sale” sign.
- Springfieldish - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 10:01 am:
Madigan and the Tribune he controls.
- Truthteller - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 10:05 am:
I’ll pick the guy who might raise my taxes over the guy who might kill me to make a buck
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 10:06 am:
== I would surely be putting up a “for sale” sign.==
Man that’d be a home sale no agent wants a part of. “Not an immediate threat to public health” is a quick route to “for sale by owner” and later “price reduced by seller”, soon followed by “property auction”.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 10:07 am:
Y’know, I’m not a fan of Rauner’s (to say the least), but he hasn’t been with the firm for seven years.
I think the headlines are a bit unfair.
That said, I’m surprised the Trib couldn’t find a way to blame Madigan, but I’m sure Rauner will.
- Keyrock - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 10:17 am:
Worst headline? I’d still go with the National Review’s:
“The Worst Republican Governor in America,”
and the variations that followed.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 10:53 am:
Between Sterigenics International, CCS, and Trans Healthcare, Inc., Bruce might want to share one investment of GCTR that didn’t harm others.
- ChrisB - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 11:00 am:
So a company that was purchased 5 years before the EPA came out with updated guidelines as to how toxic this material really is is Rauner’s fault? According to the article, they were following previous guidelines, and are currently voluntarily working with the EPA to comply with the new EPA regulations.
You can’t expect everyone to be clairvoyant. Holding everyone to an Ex Post standard is ridiculous.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 11:35 am:
The reason Rauner invested in this firm was to ensure that his plans for Quincy’s veterans went according to plan. /s
Cancer isn’t a bug in the Rauner administration - it is a feature.
- PublicServant - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 11:44 am:
This is a deep state plot, paid for by Madigan and the corrupt Chicago machine. /s
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 12:04 pm:
PLZ Aeroscience, which is owned 100% by Pritzker’s investment firm produces products which contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm. However where is the story about that?
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 12:40 pm:
Wow, junk science and junk reporting all in one article. More evidence that the tribune is aiming to become the National Inquirer of Chicago (and I am a 7 day/week subscriber. This article is all conjecture and “sky is falling” reporting. No hard facts, words such as may and could be. This is why people don’t trust the media. The screaming headline is more important than facts.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 2:24 pm:
Anonymous 12:04
Does PLZ Aerospace emit those chemicals into the environment and cause cancer to neighbors? I’ll wait for you to appreciate the difference here.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 2:28 pm:
An electrical cord “contains chemicals known to the State of Califonia to cause cancer ..” I’ll make sure not to eat one.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 2:55 pm:
Driveby, wrong. Although TRS invested in GTCR funds awhile back, their last investment was in Fund VII. This company was bought by Fund IX.
Glad you lived up to your handle.
- Soccermom - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 3:03 pm:
You know, there’s nothing that puts my mind at ease more than Bruce Rauner telling me, “This is not a public health crisis.”
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 3:19 pm:
Bruce Rauner on cancer risk from toxic air pollution: “This is not a public health crisis.”
Bruce Rauner on the Legionnaires’ crisis that killed 14 at the Quincy Veterans’ Home: “Well our team has done, by and large, an excellent job. People aren’t perfect. Occasionally some things stumble here or there.”
– MrJM
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
And of there is anyone you can trust on what is or isn’t a public health crisis, it’s definitely Baron von Legionnaires.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 4:32 pm:
With PLZ being a maker of aerosol products that have contained such things as TCE, the products are emitted into the air/ground water and can cause cancer to neighbors.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 6:49 pm:
Anonymous 4:32, you are still confusing actual release of chemicals and their apparent links to actual cancers versus a company that makes chemicals but has not been accused of releasing them or exposing anyone, to my knowledge. If you can’t see the night and day difference, please check your predetermined opinions.
- My thoughts - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 7:56 pm:
Such as PLZ releasing over 2,500 gallons of carburetor cleaner containing naphthalene into the streams?
- Jibba - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 8:17 pm:
My thoughts…that is the first allegation today that PLZ actually released anything. However, Google doesn’t seem to know anything about it. Feel free to post some details.
- My thoughts - Tuesday, Aug 28, 18 @ 9:16 pm:
A simple google search will show for example https://www.google.com/amp/amp.wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/epa-launches-federal-investigation-into-smyrna-creek-spill/429820312