New EDF report reveals almost 4 million Illinois residents live near a warehouse

Updated: May 28, 2026

What’s new: EDF released a report this week, Illinois Warehouse Boom, which examines the growth of warehouses and their health impacts in communities across Illinois. The report finds that at least one in six Illinois residents now live within half a mile of a large warehouse of at least 100,000 square feet. Other key findings include: 

• Almost 4 million Illinois residents – more than one in four – live within half a mile of a leased warehouse of at least 30,000 square feet. 
• Of those, 239,000 are under age five and 488.000 are over age 64. 
• At least 683,000 freight truck trips per day service a total of 6,970 leased and owned warehouses across the state. 
• Hispanic/Latino populations are 1.7 times more likely to live within half a mile of a warehouse than would be expected, based on statewide demographics. 
• Black populations are 1.4 times more likely to live within half a mile of a warehouse than would be expected, based on statewide demographics. 
• State-defined environmental justice communities cover 1.3% of the state but contain 41% of warehouses. 

Why it matters:Diesel trucks emit significant pollution around warehouses while idling and while traveling at low speeds, and regulations to protect health haven’tkept up. A growing body of peer-reviewed research shows that exposure to traffic-related air pollution increases the risk of childhood asthma. Asthma is a leading cause of missed school days and has been linked to diminished school performance. Black children are nearly nine times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma and five times more likely to die from asthma, compared to non-Hispanic white children. Air pollution from diesel trucks is also associated with increased health risks at other stages of life. It raises the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, dementia, heart disease and stroke.

What’s next: policy solutions

The report arrives as Illinois state legislators consider the Warehouse Pollution Reduction Act, a bill that would bring greater transparency around warehouses by requiring truck-attracting facilities to report information on warehouse ownership, truck trips and associated emissions to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The bill would also expand IEPA’s truck and air quality monitoring capacity with a focus on high-impact communities and require new facilities to conduct community outreach prior to beginning construction of any warehouses.  

In the last 18 months, EDF and several environmental justice organizations, environmental non-profits, and health organizations have organized four community town halls in  Illinois areas overburdened by diesel pollution, including Will County, Pilsen, McKinley Park, and Southeast Side of Chicago, attended by over a hundred community members, warehouse workers, and elected officials.

Go deeper: Download the full report.