Carus Chemical’s (Carus LLC) primary product, potassium permanganate, is best known as a chemical for treating municipal drinking water. It was originally made for use in explosives during WWI, and it is used in mining, fracking, and refining crude oil. Illicit drug manufacturers also make cocaine with it.
The company also produces phosphates and has current contracts with the Department of Defense. It is protected from FOIA laws as a chemical weapons manufacturer under Executive Order 2023-03 signed by Illinois Governor Pritzker in March 2023, shortly after the Carus chemical factory warehouse started on fire and rained chemicals onto the town of LaSalle, Illinois.
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Residents of Shelby, Iowa, are alarmed by their bright pink water, attributed to potassium permanganate, following a malfunction of water pumps. They express concerns over the water’s taste, likening it to “drinking straight pennies.” Although city officials assert the water is safe to drink, skepticism remains among the community.
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During the war Marianne had been drafted into Hitler Youth, and she worked at the western front, peeling potatoes for the soldiers digging trenches. Her father, an eye doctor, was also drafted–into the Nazi Party. After the war he spent a year and a half in an English prison camp then returned to his practice…
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The Illinois Pollution Control Board hearing for the lawsuit against the City of LaSalle is scheduled for Feb 29, 2024, 10:00 am, at the Ottawa Downtown Courthouse, 119 West Madison St., Ottawa, Illinois 61354, Room 206.
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Residents of La Salle, Illinois, are concerned about potential pollution from the Carus Chemical plant, which discharges chemical wastewater into the Little Vermillion River. Evidence suggests pollutants including barium, cadmium, copper, lead, and mercury have contaminated local soil and water supplies. Locals, including a chemical engineer volunteering to help with testing, are demanding stricter regulation…
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Story by Karry King Edited by: Ben Westhoff On the morning of January 11, a chemical manufacturing warehouse in La Salle, Illinois exploded. Orange flames ascended into a thick black cloud over the rural town, ninety miles southwest of Chicago. Over one million pounds of a chemical called potassium permanganate were released into the atmosphere, and…
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Carus failed to provide employees with non-combustible materials for use in storage and handling of potassium permanganate,” and their actions were “likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to fire hazards due to an oxidizer coming into contact with combustible materials. Internal documents obtained by the court…
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Carus’ chemicals are now stored in an old K-Mart at the Ottawa South Towne Mall, inside the same building where several government offices are open to the public, including the Illinois State Dept of Employment, Health and Human Services and others. It’s also located next to a senior housing complex, recreation facilities and schools. When…
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The contaminated site includes nearly 5,000 homes, covers most of the City of La Salle, and incorporates an 80-foot-tall slag pile owned by Carus Chemicals. The 17-acre pile of slag and sinter borders the Little Vermillion River, which through a series of tributaries empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
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By: Karry King LA SALLE, IL – Potassium permanganate is used to purify water and air, but people who live near the plant where the chemical is manufactured in LaSalle, Illinois, say that it has contaminated the air, soil and water in their community. Carus LLC manufactures potassium permanganate and sodium permanganate, chemicals that are…
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Carus Chemical donated over $300,000 to LaSalle Public Library shortly after the Sierra Club testified at the city council meeting about heavy metals and air pollution being emitted from Carus.
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Sierra Club Test Recommendations & Presentation April 17, 2023
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To Whom It May Concern: As a resident of La Salle, IL and as a homeowner affected by the fallout from the Carus Chemical LLC. Fire that occurred on January 11, 2023, I have several concerns that lead me to contact you today. Please understand that I have been working through the process, as are…
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We received test results from the Sierra Club for the last round of furnace filters taken from residents’ homes near Carus Chemical after the January 11 explosion and fire at Carus’ manufacturing plant in La Salle, Illinois. Barium. Copper, Lead, Manganese and Zinc were found in every filter that was tested. 3 filters had Mercury.…
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Thank you for this! Well researched and it highlights the problem of making poisonous substances and the disregard the companies have for communities. Also the laughable enforcement and regulation by the EPA. How many more tragedies like this or the train derailments of toxic chemicals need to happen?
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