Chemicals from Personal Care Products Are Polluting Chicago’s Air

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When the gales blow across the Windy City, residents may have more to worry about than mussed hair. According to a new study led by Keri Hornbuckle from the University of Iowa, chemicals found in a myriad of personal care products are polluting Chicago’s air. Known as cyclic siloxanes, these compounds have been found to be toxic in aquatic life as well as posing a possible threat to other organisms. The airborne chemicals in downtown Chicago were recorded at levels ten times higher than in West Branch Iowa, and four times higher than in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. No studies have been completed yet to determine whether or not breathing the substances is harmful to humans, but their concentrations might be cause for concern.

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Post tags: air pollution, California, canada, Cedar Rapids, chicago, cyclic siloxanes, d4, d5, England, Food Chain, great lakes, keri hornbuckle, norway, personal care products, toxic, university of iowa, US EPA, water issues, west branch