Groups Differ as to Safety of Illinois Beach

July 21, 2006 - After much debate about asbestos that’s consistently been found on the sands at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Illinois, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health have deemed that there is no danger to the public from breathing asbestos fibers from the sand in the park and that the levels of fibers found in the park are way below what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers dangerous. 

The state Department of Health agrees with the findings and notes that they are consistent with three previous tests that were performed on the sands of the beach at the park, which is frequented by both locals and visitors.  According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also issued a statement that it "generally agreed with the conclusions that asbestos exposure does not appear to pose a public health hazard, assuming that the program to immediately remove visible asbestos-containing material is in place."

However, the watchdog group known as the Illinois Dunesland Preservation Society disagrees with the report and has filed a complaint with U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, alleging that state Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan and her Asbestos Task Force rigged tests and sampling protocols.

"The data from all previous government studies does not support the conclusions that the beaches are safe based upon current knowledge of asbestos health risks," said Jeffery Camplin, the society's health and safety engineer. The organization maintains that there are indeed “no safe levels of asbestos.”

The asbestos at the state park was first discovered in 2004 and is believed to have come from demolished homes and an abandoned factory near the park.  The report urged Illinois’ Department of Natural Resources to continue to inform hikers and beachgoers about the long-standing asbestos problem and to spend more time cleaning up the material.