(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- An environmental study that has gave the green light to a planned migrant tent camp in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood is getting support from a local health expert -- up to a point.
The Johnson Administration late last week released a report on the former industrial property at 37th and California that said some toxic substances, including mercury and other metals, exceeded levels the state considers safe at residential locations.
Dr. Susan Buchanan, an associate professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, says the discovery of mercury is definitely a concern.
It “is really a problem if children are outside playing in the dirt and putting their hands in their mouths,” she said.
However, Dr. Buchanan adds, given the steps the city has taken to remove contaminants from the site, she supports it being used for temporary housing.
“Most of our soil in the city of Chicago is probably contaminated and has collected lead and other heavy metals and all kinds of industrial chemicals over the last 200 years of the city’s industrial activity,” she said.
She calls the plan “low risk” so long as the housing is truly temporary.
Additional work at the winterized “base camp” site is on hold as state environmental officials review findings.
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