Data for 1996 were not available for the other companies. However, he said the odor from the manufacture of corn products isn't as bad as it used to be. My parents worked there. Marcello Aquilar and his wife, Christina, have lived in Bedford Park for 11 years. Reporting under the federal-state program started in 1987.
Business groups cite efforts to reduce emissions and object to making lists of top polluters.
Reports over the last decade show a reduction in toxic releases. However, the decline is hard to gauge because some chemicals have been taken off the inventory list and many more were added. While Chicago area plants contribute to state pollution, the rest of the state spews more toxins. In 1995, Chicago area plants released 38.1 million pounds of the 139.3 million pounds of toxins released statewide. In 1995, the state's top polluter was Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. in Sterling, which reported releasing more toxins than all 773 Chicago area facilities reporting.