Former North Suburban Cleaners Site
July 2016 Update
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been working in coordination with the Illinois EPA and Village of Morton Grove regarding the potential release of cancer-causing vapors from past operations at the Former North Suburban Cleaners site in Morton Grove, Ill. In May of this year, U.S. EPA, with permission from the owners, collected air samples in four homes located north, east and northeast of the site to check for possible indoor air contamination. Backyard soil gas samples were also taken at these four homes. Because no elevated levels from the Former North Suburban Cleaners site were found inside these homes, no further sampling of additional homes is planned at this time.
In July, U.S. EPA also collected indoor air samples from three of the four businesses in the mini-mall (7630 to 7620 N. Dempster) and the areas where the former dry cleaning business was location. Results from these samples show it is safe to do business and shop in these stores at this time.
U.S. EPA is working with the Village of Morton Grove to keep the public informed of sampling activities and results.
Site Background
The Former North Suburban Cleaners, located at 7620-7622 Dempster Street in Morton Grove, operated as a dry cleaners from approximately 1965 to 2008. In 2008, the dry cleaning machines and stored dry cleaning solvents were removed. North Suburban Cleaners no longer operates a store at this location and this commercial space is now being utilized by a specialty grocery company.
Historic use of dry cleaning solvents at the site has resulted in solvent releases to soil and ground water. Soil and ground water were contaminated with chemicals called trichloroethylene, or TCE, tetrachloroethylene, commonly known as PCE and vinyl chloride. TCE, PCE and vinyl chloride are in a class of chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs can dissolve in water and evaporate easily, giving off vapors that can be inhaled.
Sampling results show from 2014 indicate that concentrations of specific VOCs in the ground water have decreased over time, however, those VOCs have also been found in soil gas samples collected at and around the former dry cleaning plant area. Soil gas concentrations generally decrease with distance from the source and when soil is exposed to the air, such as in landscaped areas or lawns.