Dust problem east of the old Elmhurst Quarry? (Chicago, Walnut: sales, new home)

[MadMoody]

My wife and I were looking at a house in Elmhurst on Walnut St. just north of W 1st St. When I returned to my car after spending about 45 minutes in the home, there was a fine layer of white dust or powder all over my car.

My agent noticed it first and we speculated about what it could be from.

I later hit up Google Maps and found the quarry just two blocks to the west. But it's no longer operating and is now an overflow water reservoir.

Directly west across the Salt Creek is the Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Co, making aggregate, ready-mix concrete and other raw materials for construction. I'd imagine the work they do there could throw off a lot of dust (although there are regulations). The wind would carry it east. We drove by it, and the streets just west are edged with white dust where the trucks roll.

There is other construction on the section of Walnut St. we visited which could possibly account for the dust.

I have kids. The last thing I want to do is move somewhere that could pose a health hazard to my children.

We also took a peek at the new homes being constructed on the site of the old Elmhurst hospital. The sales person made a point to mention they are installing a fancy air filtration system in every home. I've not seen that before, and now I'm wondering whether this new development is also in the path of a dust cloud.

I googled quite a bit but I couldn't find anyone else complaining about this type of pollution in Elmhurst (unless you count back in the 1990s when the quarry was in full swing and churning out asphalt for O'Hare runways).

Can anyone put my mind at ease about living east of the old quarry?

Thanks!

[chet everett]

I know it can be very stressful to shop for home. There is no reason to believe there is anything unhealthful about living in Elmhurst.

The developer of the homes on the site of the former Elmhurst hospital is almost certainly choosing HVAC systems with features that they can tout as a "premium" as opposed to "builder grade" as the incentive to redevelop that whole part of town as "upscale" is the motivation.

Most of the former quarry is now a storm water reservoir. It is part of the increasingly elaborate ways that our region deals with sudden downpours as more of the land in the whole region is impermeable. There is no significant construction at the site and the average depth is about 200 ft below street level; it is implausible that any dust is carried from the site. Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility

Likely sources of "dust" this time of year include not just nearby construction sites but plants and trees.. Pollen Index & Forecast | Weather Underground

[mr roboto]

Pollen is really bad this time of year.

[nikitakolata]

I haven't heard anything about quarry dust and haven't noticed anything personally. I don't live that close to the quarry, but we are definitely east of it.

[nanannie]

My elderly mom lives less then a 1/2 mile from the quarry and has for 30 years. Has never had a problem with dust.in fact, she walks to "Courts" every day, quarry dust never a thought.
I grew up in Elmhurst,went thru all my school years there, never heard such a thing mentioned. Love that town, wonderful place to raise kids.