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Opposing Views of Study

County says study valid; plaintiffs disagree

The McHenry County Department of Health stands by its May 2006 analysis of McCullom Lake’s brain cancers. Officials maintain that cancer rates are normal, and that pollution from two Ringwood manufacturers named in lawsuits by the victims are not responsible.

Plaintiff attorney Aaron Freiwald counters that the county’s research leaves much to be desired.

THE COUNTY: The available data from the Illinois State Cancer Registry shows no statistically significant increase among brain and nerve cancers in the 60050 ZIP code.

THE PLAINTIFFS: The data the county had at the time was three years old. Based on data age and ZIP code, the Northwest Herald discovered that only one of the 18 brain/nerve cancer plaintiffs would show up in the analysis.

THE COUNTY: The groundwater contamination plume never reached the village.

THE PLAINTIFFS: Aside from one round of well tests and requests to state agencies, the county based its conclusions on the research and maps provided by the defendant companies. Also, the county ignored allegations that contaminated air from the air stripper and nearby wetlands blew into the village.

THE COUNTY: Residents never breathed in the chemicals because the factories are to the north and the wind blows from west to east.

THE PLAINTIFFS: Wind patterns recorded at both O’Hare International Airport and Rohm and Haas prove that winds from the north are not uncommon.

THE COUNTY: The county followed appropriate steps in its study.

THE PLAINTIFFS: The county never wrote a protocol for the study, and ignored the very steps it outlined in an earlier version of its presentation.

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