Kiera Jefferson
East Chicago, Indiana, has been plagued by pollution for most of the 20th century. Located just across the Illinois border and a 30-minute drive from downtown Chicago, the city was once known as Steeltown due to its thriving industry. However, the chemical plants, oil refineries, lead smelters, and steel mills left a toxic legacy. Residents of East Chicago, particularly those in the West Calumet neighborhood, have had to deal with the health and financial consequences of living in contaminated areas. Despite knowing about the pollution, city, state, and federal officials did little to address the issue for decades, leading to accusations of systemic discrimination and environmental racism. This is the story of how pollution has seeped into the lives of East Chicago residents and the ongoing struggle for environmental justice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 30,000 |
| Demographics | Mostly African-American and Latino |
| Median Household Income | $27,000 per year |
| Industries | Chemical plants, oil refineries, lead smelters, and steel mills |
| Pollution Sources | Fugitive dust, petroleum coke, zinc metal refining, diesel emissions, and more |
| Health Effects | Illnesses, asthma, pneumonia, heart and lung diseases, and potential long-term effects on children |
| Environmental Justice Issues | Systemic housing discrimination, slow cleanup, and environmental racism |
| Advocacy Groups | Calumet Lives Matter, Greater Chatham Initiative |
| Government Actions | EPA investigations, settlements, and cleanups; Illinois EPA and Chicago Department of Public Health efforts |
| Air Quality Rankings | 7th-most polluted US city in 2024; 18th in 2019 for ozone pollution |
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What You'll Learn
Soil contamination
In 1985, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the soil in East Chicago was contaminated with lead, a toxic substance that poses various health risks, especially to children. This discovery brought attention to the public health threat posed by pollution in the area.
The impact of soil contamination on the residents of East Chicago has been significant. In 2016, a legal settlement was reached regarding allegations of systemic housing discrimination by the East Chicago Housing Authority. The authority was accused of placing residents in "poor, segregated communities with serious levels of environmental contamination." This case highlighted the intersection of environmental issues and social inequality in the city.
Community advocates like Sherry Hunter have emerged as key figures in the fight for environmental justice in East Chicago. Hunter, an advocate for the Calumet neighborhood, has called for increased investment and revitalization of the area. She has pushed for policies that address the needs of the predominantly low-income community, including health monitoring and Medicare for residents exposed to pollution.
The slow pace of cleanup and remediation in East Chicago has also been a point of contention. Residents have expressed concerns about the lack of focus and investment in their neighborhood, feeling neglected by the city. The EPA has taken steps to address environmental issues in the area, but the process has been long and challenging for those affected.
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Health issues
East Chicago, Indiana, was dominated by industry for most of the 20th century. The chemical plants, oil refineries, lead smelters, and steel mills left a legacy of toxic pollution. For decades, officials did little about the problem, and residents say state and federal agencies first became aware of the public health threat posed by the pollution in the early 1980s.
In 1985, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took samples and determined that the soil was contaminated with lead, which can cause various health problems, especially in young children. Lead can cause developmental issues, behavioural problems, a lower IQ, and reduced attention span. It can also impact the nervous system and kidneys and cause hearing and speech problems.
In 2016, residents of the West Calumet neighborhood won a legal settlement alleging systemic housing discrimination by the East Chicago Housing Authority for locating them in "poor, segregated communities with serious levels of environmental contamination." The slow cleanup of many areas of East Chicago is seen as further systemic discrimination, with residents calling it "environmental racism."
The Calumet area has been particularly affected by pollution, with residents losing their homes and being relocated. Sherry Hunter, an advocate and local group leader, has been calling for more investment in her community, including more parks and businesses, and long-term policies to support the mostly low-income community.
East Chicago is not an isolated case, as Chicago, Illinois, has also faced significant air pollution issues. Chicago was ranked the 18th most polluted city in the U.S. for ozone pollution in 2019 and has a long history of unhealthy air pollution dating back to its industrialization in the late nineteenth century. Chicago relies on dirty coal, which has increased instances of pneumonia, asthma, and heart and lung diseases. Chicago was also ranked the 7th most polluted major U.S. city in 2024, with high levels of PM2.5, a fine particle pollutant that can be harmful even at low concentrations.
The EPA has taken steps to address pollution in Chicago, investigating over 75 companies for Clean Air Act compliance since 2014 and reaching a settlement with American Zinc Recycling in 2020 to reduce particulate matter and dust pollution from its facility.
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Systemic housing discrimination
East Chicago, Indiana, was once dominated by industry, with chemical plants, oil refineries, lead smelters, and steel mills operating in the area for most of the 20th century. While these industries brought economic activity to the region, they also left a legacy of toxic pollution that has had a profound impact on the lives of East Chicago residents.
One of the most prominent examples of how pollution has seeped into the lives of East Chicago residents is through systemic housing discrimination. In 2016, residents of the West Calumet neighborhood won a legal settlement against the East Chicago Housing Authority, alleging that they had been placed in poor, segregated communities with serious levels of environmental contamination. This case shed light on the larger issue of environmental racism, where people of colour are disproportionately affected by pollution and face barriers to accessing safe and healthy housing.
The impact of pollution on housing decisions in East Chicago has been significant. Many residents have been forced to relocate due to the hazardous conditions in their neighbourhoods. The slow pace of cleanup efforts has also been criticised, with community organisers like Rev. Cheryl Rivera advocating for faster and more effective solutions. Residents have called for investments in their communities, including more parks and businesses, to revitalise areas that have been neglected and torn apart by pollution.
The pollution in East Chicago has not only affected the physical structures of homes but also the health and well-being of residents. Lead contamination in the soil, as identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1985, poses a significant risk to young children's health. The presence of other toxic pollutants has also led to financial loss, illness, and a sense of community loss for the residents.
While there have been some efforts to address the pollution and its impact on housing in East Chicago, the journey towards environmental justice is ongoing. Local groups like Calumet Lives Matter, led by Sherry Hunter, have advocated for long-term policies to support the mostly low-income community affected by pollution. They have demanded first right of return for displaced residents, ongoing health monitoring, and Medicare for all residents exposed to pollution. These efforts highlight the resilience and determination of the East Chicago community in their fight for a healthier and more equitable future.
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Environmental racism
East Chicago, Indiana, is a clear example of environmental racism. For most of the 20th century, the city was dominated by heavy industry, including chemical plants, oil refineries, lead smelters, and steel mills. These industries left a legacy of toxic pollution, including soil contamination with lead, which can cause serious health issues, especially in children. Despite knowing about the health threat posed by this pollution since the early 1980s, officials did little to address the problem. This inaction disproportionately affected the residents of East Chicago, who are mostly African-American and Latino, with a median household income of just $27,000 per year.
The impacts of this pollution on the residents of East Chicago have been devastating. People have experienced financial loss, illness, and a loss of community as they have been forced to relocate due to unsafe living conditions. In 2016, residents of the West Calumet neighborhood won a legal settlement against the East Chicago Housing Authority for locating them in "poor, segregated communities with serious levels of environmental contamination". This case highlighted the systemic housing discrimination faced by communities of colour in East Chicago.
Local advocates like Sherry Hunter, who runs Calumet Lives Matter, have been fighting for environmental justice and long-term policies to support the low-income communities affected by pollution. They have called for investment in their communities, including more parks and businesses, and for the right of return for residents displaced by pollution. Hunter and other community organizers have brought attention to the slow pace of cleanup efforts in East Chicago, characterizing it as further evidence of systemic discrimination and environmental racism.
The situation in East Chicago is not an isolated incident. Chicago as a whole has a long history of unhealthy air pollution, dating back to the city's industrialization in the late 19th century when it relied heavily on dirty coal. In recent years, Chicago has consistently ranked as one of the most polluted major cities in the United States, with high levels of particle pollution (PM2.5) and ozone pollution. While there have been some improvements, such as the cleanup of coal-fired power plants, air pollution continues to pose a serious risk to the health and well-being of Chicago residents, particularly in low-income communities and communities of colour.
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Clean Air Act non-compliance
East Chicago, Indiana, was dominated by industry for most of the 20th century. Chemical plants, oil refineries, lead smelters, and steel mills left a legacy of toxic pollution. Despite residents' complaints, city, state, and federal officials did little to address the problem for decades.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is a comprehensive federal law enacted to control air pollution and emissions from stationary and mobile sources. The law authorises the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants. The CAA also allows citizens to file civil actions against persons or facilities causing an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or the environment.
In the case of East Chicago, the EPA has taken action against companies for non-compliance with the CAA. For example, in 2020, the EPA reached a settlement with American Zinc Recycling for alleged violations of the CAA from its zinc metal refining facility in Chicago. The company was required to upgrade its air pollution controls to reduce particulate matter and dust pollution.
Despite these efforts, East Chicago residents continue to face the impacts of pollution. In 2016, residents of the West Calumet neighborhood won a legal settlement alleging systemic housing discrimination by locating them in areas with high levels of environmental contamination. The slow cleanup of polluted areas has also been criticised as a form of systemic discrimination, with residents calling for more investment and revitalisation of their communities.
To address non-compliance with the CAA, the EPA can assess civil administrative penalties, issue field citations, and take immediate action to protect public health and the environment. However, as of 2025, Chicago remains one of the most polluted major cities in the US, indicating that further efforts are needed to improve air quality and protect residents' health.
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Frequently asked questions
East Chicago, Indiana was dominated by industry for most of the 20th century. Chemical plants, oil refineries, lead smelters, and steel mills left a legacy of toxic pollution.
The pollution in East Chicago has been linked to various health issues, including pneumonia, asthma, and heart and lung diseases. Lead contamination in the soil can also cause several health problems, especially in young children.
Residents like Sherry Hunter have advocated for environmental justice and long-term policies to support the community. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also taken steps to address pollution, including investigating companies for Clean Air Act compliance and enforcing improvements.
Pollution has led to financial loss, illness, and a sense of community loss. Residents have had to relocate due to unsafe living conditions, and the slow cleanup process has been criticized as a form of systemic discrimination or "environmental racism."
