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Health Studies

After discovering their water supply had been illegally supplemented with contaminated water for over 20 years, residents were worried about their health. Some residents, like Tricia Krause, had already been concerned about high disease rates in the area. The contaminants found in Well #1 are known carcinogens and can have other harmful health effects. Soon after the Tribune published Poison in the Well, residents and elected officials begun calling for a health study on the area.  

In response, two government agencies investigated Crestwood. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. One role of this environmental public health agency is to investigate exposure to hazardous substances. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) manages the Illinois State Cancer Registry. Medical facilities are required to report cancer cases within 6 months of diagnosis. The zip code where the patient lives at a time of diagnosis is recorded to keep track of the rate of cancer in a community. This information is useful when investigating a potential cancer cluster. The Center for Disease Control defines a cancer cluster as: a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occur within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time. However, it is difficult to determine if there is a cancer cluster. Even when a cancer cluster is found, it is almost impossible to prove the cause, even when there is a known contaminant. Together, these agencies did a study on Crestwood.

Despite the public pressure, the agencies were slow to release the information. The Tribune reported that the agencies were being secretive about the studies in December 2009. Meanwhile, Tricia Krause made her own map of cancer in her community. In March 2010, the study was finally released. 

Cancer Incidence Report:

  • Prepared by the Division of Epidemiologic Studies, IDPH

  • Used data from the state's cancer registry 

  • Statistical analysis 

  • Diagnosed between 1994-2006 and living in Crestwood at time of diagnosis 

    • Only included cases where exact address could be used since Midlothian and Crestwood shared a zip code 

    • 952 cases included

  • Cook County used for comparison population​

    • Concerns raised over Cook County data being used for expected numbers since it is highly polluted  ​

Health Consultation:

  • ​​Reviewed available information to decide if exposure to chemicals in Crestwood's water is a public health hazard 

  • Included testing and site data from the Illinois EPA

  • Also investigated concerns over lead paint in soil under water tower 

  • Health-based interpretation of available information 

  • Multiple versions published through a joint agreement between  ATSDR and IDPH​

  • The final version, released in March 2011, included questions from residents during the public comment period

expected vs observed cancer table.jpg

Crestwood residents will never know for certain if the contaminants in their water supply caused their health problems. Both studies only explored the incidence of cancer. There was no investigation into other potential health affects, such as nerve disorders or kidney disease. The studies were unable to conclude if contaminant exposure affected the health of residents in the area. Residents will never know their level of exposure.  

Incidence of Cancer in the Village of Crestwood (Cook County) 1994-2006, IDPH

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