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Thwarting Thorium

WHEN HIGH LEVELS OF RADIOACTIVE THORIUM WERE FOUND IN A WEST CHICAGO BASEMENT, AREA RESIDENTS CAME TOGETHER TO GET INFORMED.  LEARN MORE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

CANCER-CAUSING THORIUM REMAINS UNDER SOME PARTS OF A MOSTLY-HISPANIC WEST CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD, AND RESIDENTS – ESPECIALLY NEW HOMEOWNERS - WANT TO KNOW WHICH HOUSES ARE AFFECTED. 

THEY SAY DETAILS ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION, THE STATUS OF ITS CLEANUP, AND ANY POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS HAVE BEEN SPARSE.  AND BECAUSE OF A LANGUAGE BARRIER, CRITICAL INFORMATION HAS ELUDED MANY SPANISH-SPEAKING RESIDENTS. 

KATHY BENTHAM HELPED FORM “PROTECTION OF LIVES AGAINST THORIUM,” OR PLAT, TO INFORM AND ENGAGE HER NEIGHBORS.

BENTHAM: WHEN WE STARTED OUR GROUP AND SENT OUT OUR FLYERS, ONE SIDE WAS ENGLISH, ONE SIDE WAS SPANISH.

PLAT GOES DOOR TO DOOR WITH THE ISSUE – LITERALLY TAKING STEPS TO GIVE RESIDENTS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO SEEK GOVERNMENT DISCLOSURE.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Learn more about thorium from the EPA.

Read more about Kerr-McGee from the CDC.

Read more from the Daily Herald.