Jackson County, IL

ZIP 62966

In ZIP 62966, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Chester meets every EPA legal limit; 11 contaminants are above health goals, led by pfos at 1.6× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Closer to Superfund sites than 58% of U.S. neighborhoods, with no listed site within 10 miles of its center.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Southern Illinois Power Cooperative (83%), mostly sulfuric acid.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 7.3 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 186,546 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 62966

• Superfund sites nearbyA to C
• Factories and industrial sitesA to B
• Oil and gas wellsA to B
• Parks and nature nearbyA to C
• Air qualityB to C
• Drinking water qualityB to C
• Pesticide useD to F
• Neighborhood health statusC to F
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsA
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsC to D

Based on 10 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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