Prestige Feed Products odor levels found safe by study funded by Mount Prospect

A $69,000 odor study of Prestige Feed Products funded by Mount Prospect found the chemicals tested within safe exposure levels.

But neighbors of the animal feed producer at 431 Lakeview Court, said they still face persistent odor issues affecting their daily lives.

In March, the village engaged RHP Risk Management Inc. to conduct an airborne chemical assessment.

RHP tested at six locations in June.

The sampling results, recently posted by the village on its website, were found to be at a “safe exposure level,” according to the report.

Under conditions when odors were intermittently detectable and winds blowing toward residences, all measured compounds were below levels expected to cause adverse health effects from lifelong exposure, even in sensitive populations like children, asthmatics and the elderly, the report said.

The report’s stated findings support the characterization of community concerns as a “nuisance odor” from Prestige rather than a health concern, “though there are several limitations to the study to consider.”

The most common complaint is a “burnt cheese” smell, which is commonly used to describe butyric acid. The report noted all air sampling results indicated safe levels of butyric acid and other compounds.

But some neighbors were not appeased.

“Even if that test shows that it's totally fine, it’s still not fine, and they have to leave,” Mount Prospect Robert Cullen resident said. “I couldn't shovel my driveway or walk my dog. The kids couldn’t play. It doesn’t change any of that.”

Des Plaines resident Mary Beth Stillmaker, who is involved in a class-action suit against Prestige, said they should have tested for additional chemicals, including ones used to mask the odors.

“They didn't cover everything,” she said. “They only picked certain chemicals that they wanted to test.”

The class-action suit is one of two active suits against Prestige. The Illinois attorney general’s office has also taken legal action.

Prestige settled with the village of Mount Prospect and the City of Des Plaines. It has agreed to wind up operations by Dec. 31.