Durbin: Old post office not venting train fumes

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says the owner of the old Chicago post office should fix ventilation systems below the building to help prevent train exhaust from backing up inside nearby Union Station.

Durbin says Amtrak and Metra have taken steps to improve the train station’s air quality. But he says it’s still not good enough, partly because of faulty ventilation in the empty post office.

The Illinois senator sent a letter Monday to the chairman of International Property Developers, which owns the building. And Amtrak on Friday filed a federal lawsuit over the issue.

International Property Developers says eight of 11 ventilation fans are working fine, and the others are being sent for repair.

Diesel pollution can exacerbate or cause heart and lung problems and can cause cancer over time.