The Tribune's Michael Hawthorne continues his investigation into pollution on Chicago's Southwest Side. Citing Environmental Protection Agency data, he finds that lead pollution near Perez Elementary in Pilsen, a school that serves some 500 children, was consistently higher last year than federal rules allow. It is a worrisome finding, given the impact lead has on childhood development.

Average lead levels at Perez Elementary School were at or above federal limits during three three-month periods in 2010, the data show. Lead pollution exceeded health standards during a fifth of the days monitored and, on one day in December, spiked more than 10 times higher — findings that alarm even veteran investigators.

It is not clear where, precisely, the lead pollution is coming from but Hawthorne notes that Perez is located near the H. Kramer and Co. metal smelter and the Fisk coal-fired power plant. Both firms denied to the Tribune that their plants were responsible for the polllution. Pilsen has many old buildings, and lead could be "kicked into the air" during building demolition, the newspaper writes. The Tribune used open records laws to point out that H. Kramer and Fisk released 242 and 149 pounds of lead into the air in 2009. H. Kramer released 1,450 pounds in 2007.

Today's story confirms the organizing work groups like the Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization (PERRO) has done around pollution in the neighborhood. In 2005, PERRO collected soil samples near H. Kramer that forced the state EPA into action. Before then, Hawthorne writes, "[f]ederal, state and city officials had brushed aside complaints" about pollution in Pilsen.

Environmental issues are a big part of the 25th Ward aldermanic run-off campaign that voters will decide next week. Incumbent Ald. Daniel Solis has zig-zagged on efforts to force Fisk to clean up, agreeing to back what's called the Clean Power Ordinance in City Council after meeting with SEIU; the union's state council hammered him on the issue with mailings during the first round of voting in February (the council sponsors this website). Cuahutemoc Morfin, Solis' challenger, says he's long supported the Clean Power Ordinance. Solis also recently accepted $1,000 from H. Kramer.