Senator calls for air pollution test in Chicago

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is calling for an air pollution test, in response to recent Chicago Tribune investigative reports that Chicago commuters are exposed to high levels of diesel soot.

"Dark lines of soot and other air pollution regularly are recorded on my slides," says Dr. Joseph Leija, allergist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, who has performed the official allergy count for the Midwest for the National Allergy Bureau for more than one decade.

Dr. Leija says he has warned the Environmental Protection Agency and other governmental, air quality groups about his findings for years. "They keep saying the air quality is not bad - that it is better than it is - but my slides show something much different," he said.

Dr. Leija is solely certified by the National Allergy Bureau to perform the daily official allergy count for the Midwest during allergy reporting season, March - October. "The Chicago weather prevents me from polling the air year-round, but seven months out of the year, my slides provide unique documentation of the extra particles and of the quality of the air that we breathe," he said.

Dr. Leija maintains a special pollen and mold count machine on the rooftop of the Loyola University Health System at Melrose Park community hospital and is uniquely certified to provide the official count. He is considered a regional expert on allergies and respiratory conditions in the Midwest.

"Research shows that more and more people are being diagnosed with breathing conditions in the Midwest," he said.

Dr. Leija offers these respiratory health protection tips for Chicagoans:

Live away from major transportation areas. "Research shows that respiratory conditions and certain health illnesses are more prevalent in those with residences close to expressways and busy traffic areas," Dr. Leija said.

Gently rinse nasal passages with a simple saline solution daily to remove particles from entering respiratory system. "The nostrils trap debris from the air, and will dissolve debris using special enzymes, creating a solution that is further absorbed and is toxic to the respiratory system," he said. "By rinsing out the debris, you are removing pollutants from entering your respiratory tract."

Keep windows of transportation vehicle sealed. "What you think is fresh air may actually be highly contaminated air," he warns. If you are driving, Dr. Leija advises using the car air conditioning or heating system, to limit exposure.

SOURCE Gottlieb Memorial Hospital