Taylorville, Illinois
For over 30 years, an industrial site operated by the Central Illinois Public Service Company(CIPSC) now known as Ameren has been polluting a major hydrogiological aquifer with coal tar and other carcinogenic substances. This has resulted in a large childhood cancer cluster.
The Solution
We are working with community advocates to address the travesty that has transpired in Taylorville. Our scientists are studying samples of coal tar that were collected in the basements of residents as well as the contaminated water. We will perform further testing by visiting Taylorville for tree coring and air sampling.