EPA finds radiation levels in soil beneath a West Chicago home that are more than 300 times the federally acceptable level

August 23, 2007 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified radiation levels in soil beneath a West Chicago home that are more than 300 times the federally acceptable level, officials said Wednesday.

Inspectors took samples on Aug. 9 from the home of Sandra Riess, whose property is about 200 yards from the former Kerr-McGee Co. plant that once produced thorium for gas lamp mantles. The plant was identified as the source of thorium found throughout the town after the plant closed in 1973.

Two weeks ago, inspectors removed bricks, mortar and soil from a hole in Riess' basement to pinpoint the source of radiation that had been found in samples taken in July.

By testing positive for high levels of radium, Riess' property falls under the agency's Superfund project that has cleaned up 676 properties in West Chicago.

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