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Three locations in Warsaw are potential health risks, according to the Associated Press.
The three neighborhoods were rated in the top 5 to 10 percent as being the worst neighborhoods nationally for potential health risks caused by industrial air pollution, according to AP statistics.
The locations include Lincoln Elementary School, Kosciusko Community Hospital and 1818 N. Bay Drive.
City Council member Charlie Smith shared these statistics with city council members at its Sept. 16 meeting.
Smith said he received these statistics dated April 19 from two families from his district.
According to the information, the risk scores are calculated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and aren't meant to estimate citizens' odds of getting sick, but are designed to compare communities and identify those that need more attention.
"I shared these statistics with the city council because I have an obligation as a city council member to represent constituents' concerns in our community," Smith said.
The statistics state Lincoln Elementary School, 202 N. Lincoln, is among the worst 5 percent nationally for health risks from industrial air pollution and the worst 10 percent in Indiana for health risks from industrial air pollution. The government's health risk score from the pollution is 224.1 times the average for neighborhoods nationwide.
The statistics state KCH, 2101 E. Dubois Drive, is among the worst 5 percent nationally for health risks from industrial air pollution and among the work 10 percent in Indiana for health risks from industrial air pollution. The government's health risk from industrial air pollution in the neighborhood is 149.3 times the average for neighborhoods nationwide.
The area around 1818 N. Bay Drive is also in the 5 and 10 percent health risk and the government's health risk score is 86.4 times the average for neighborhoods nationwide.
Smith said he lives on Bay Drive, and also is concerned with the statistics and has received letters from concerned citizens over the years regarding air pollution concerns in their neighborhoods.
The letters stated concerns with the Dalton Foundry on Winona Avenue. Residents say, in the letters, they believe emissions from the foundry have caused damage to vehicles and the exterior of their homes. Residents wrote chemicals from the foundry have caused gritty textures on their vehicles, poor smells and rust deposits on outdoor window sills.
Smith said he believes the rating have contributed to the foundry not being kept up by not having tree shading and fences not being repaired, compared to modern foundries that look into these concerns. He said fines should be enforced for air pollution.
"The answers to solving the pollution problem are not easy because the foundry provides employment to many of our citizens," Smith said.
