Neighbors Worry Lab is Dangerous Fatal Diseases to Be Part of Argonne Research

Few would argue with building a laboratory staffed by scientists with the potential to develop vaccines for killer diseases like the plague and anthrax.

The issue for people living next to Argonne National Laboratory in southeast DuPage County is whether you’d want that lab as a neighbor.

The University of Chicago held an open house Tuesday to explain its plans to open a biosafety facility at Argonne in 2006. Named the Howard T. Ricketts Laboratory, the project will cost $31 million and is being funded by the state, the university and the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers will focus on learning more about the causes of infections such as West Nile virus, influenza, SARS and botulism.

The facility is needed because of the threat of bioterrorism involving and the continual emergence of new strains of old problems like the plague, officials say.

“We need to devise new ways of treating these infections,” Argonne senior scientist Harvey Drucker said.

Because scientists will, in their research, be using micro- organisms that cause diseases, strict precautions will be in place to ensure the lab is contained and toxins don’t enter the outside environment, officials said.

Nearby homeowners and elected leaders were wary.

“It’s a little scary to have something like this as a neighbor,” Burr Ridge resident Holly LaSpina said. “Accidents do happen. Think of Three Mile Island.”

Darien Alderman John Poteraske said he already had concerns about Argonne’s storing of radioactive waste on its campus.

“I’d certainly prefer this to be in a more rural area,” he said. “If it’s going to be here, we have to make sure they follow procedures properly.”

University officials described rigid procedures to guard against contamination, such as sterilizing waste, using air filters, requiring lab workers to change clothes and shower before leaving and a separate garbage collection system.

The potential for saving lives is immense, scientists said.

Just recently, university staff developed a working vaccine against the plague and botulism, which will be tested at the new facility. They’re also hoping to develop medications that can be given to emergency workers who contract infections as a result of their jobs.

Argonne is an ideal location for the lab because scientists can use its advanced technology, such as a high-intensity X-ray, proponents added.

“This will enable us to generate therapies much faster,” microbiologist Olaf Schneewind said.