Illinois
PFAS found in nearly all fish tested from four northern Illinois rivers
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Scientists tested nine fish species from four northern Illinois rivers for contamination with per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, synthetic chemicals found in numerous industrial and commercial products and known to be harmful to human health. They found fish contaminated with PFAS in every one of their 15 test sites. Elevated levels of PFOS, one type of PFAS compound, were found in nearly all fish tested.
The findings are reported in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
The qualities that make PFAS desirable for industrial uses — their durability and stability under stresses such as high heat or exposure to water, for example — also make these chemicals particularly problematic in the environment and hazardous to human and animal health, said Joseph Irudayaraj, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who led the new study.
“PFAS contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds, one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry,” Irudayaraj said. “Because of this, they are also very hard to break down. They persist for a long time because they are very, very stable.”
There are nearly 15,000 PFAS chemicals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These are classified either as short-chain PFAS, which have less than six carbon-fluorine bonds, and long-chain PFAS, with six or more of these bonds, Irudayaraj said.
Long-chain PFAS were widely used before awareness grew about the hazards of these chemicals. More recently, many industries switched to using short-chain PFAS.
“It was thought that the short-chain PFAS were less toxic, and that they could more easily degrade,” he said. “But surprisingly, that was not the case.”
Now, both types of PFAS are found in groundwater, soil and human tissues.
“About 99% of people living in the U.S. have PFAS in their system,” Irudayaraj said.
Despite a voluntary phasing out of some PFAS in industry in the U.S. and efforts to reduce PFAS pollution, these chemicals are still found in drinking water, household products, food packaging and agricultural products, he said.
The researchers focused on fish in northern Illinois rivers because they are close to urban and industrial areas. Industrial emissions and urban rainwater runoff may further contaminate local waterways with PFAS. Sport fishing is also popular across the state, including in areas inside and near Chicago. More than 666,000 fishing licenses were issued across the state of Illinois in 2020.
The researchers focused on fish in the Pecatonica River, Rock River, Sugar River and Yellow Creek from 2021-22. The team collected dozens of samples from nine species of fish, including bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, northern pike, smallmouth bass and walleye. The fish represented different levels of the food chain, from those that feed only on plants, like bluegill, to those eating other fish, such as channel catfish and northern pike.
Back in the lab, the scientists analyzed fish tissues for 17 PFAS chemicals. They found PFAS-contaminated fish in every river they tested and in every one of their 15 sampling sites. Fish from the Rock River had the highest concentrations of PFAS in their tissues. Contamination levels were highest in channel catfish, at the top of the food chain, and lowest in the plant eaters.
Four chemicals known as perfluorooctanesulfonic acids or PFOS were detected in fish from every site tested.
“These are long-chain PFAS that have been in use over the past few decades,” Irudayaraj said. “They were found in all the sites, along with a few short-chain PFAS.”
Because fish are mobile, it is problematic to tie their contamination levels to the locale where they were sampled, he said. But the finding is worrisome for people who are exposed to the water or eating the fish from these sites.
“Further studies are warranted to comprehensively evaluate the occurrence and sources of PFAS throughout the state of Illinois,” the researchers wrote. “Such information is crucial to better understand the distribution and potential risks of these compounds to the environment.”
Bioengineering is a department in the The Grainger College of Engineering at Illinois. Irudayaraj also is a professor in the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and an affiliate of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the U. of I.
CHICAGO (WLS) — The Jimmy Awards honoring “theatre kids” is happening on Monday night in New York City!
Jane Nuich from Park Ridge and Logan Arroyo of Tinley Park will represent Illinois. They’ll be competing against over 100 students from across the nation.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
ABC7’s Hosea Sanders has been following their adventure that leads to a Broadway debut.
When asked if they’ve been intimidated about what’s to come, Arroyo said, “Yes, it’s scary. It’s a scary place, especially putting yourself out there on a stage or alone. I want to be an actor, and I will do whatever I can to do that.”
Nuich added, “It’s a huge opportunity to work with industry professionals and with so many other talented young people. And you get to experience so much in New York in that short week. And it’s, I think, such a cool experience rather than a big competition.”
Sanders also Arroyo and Nuich what growing up in the Chicago area has done for their exposure and their goals.
“I think the immediate access to all of the theater that Chicago has to offer has been so incredible to me. As a young student of theater and young performer in theater, I think it’s been so educational to me, and so inspiring to be able to anywhere in Chicago in a quick moment from the suburbs to just see so much theater,” Nuich said. “I think it’s so comforting to know you’re surrounded by so many artists who are just as passionate as you. And I think that going into a career in this, it’s so incredible to be exposed to so many young performers who are so talented and passionate as this age.”
Arroyo added, “I’m so excited to be around people I care about and love this as much as I do.”
When asked what previous Illinois Jimmy winners have told the performs, Nuich said, “It goes by really fast, that a lot will happen, but it’s important to stay grounded and to take it all in and realize what a special experience it is, and you just keep working hard.”
“My big dream is to do what I love and love myself for doing it,” Arroyo said.
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MT. VERNON, Ill. – A tornado caught on video tore through southern Illinois on Sunday, killing at least two people, hurting several others and destroying homes.
What we know:
The tornado touched down shortly after 5 p.m. in northeastern Jefferson County and moved northeast, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Soon after, 911 dispatchers began getting calls about damaged homes, fallen trees, downed power lines and missing people.
Several police, fire and ambulance agencies responded to help search for people and clear damaged areas.
By 9 p.m., officials said three homes had been completely destroyed, and many other buildings were damaged.
Two people died in separate homes that were destroyed by the storm. Both were single-wide mobile homes.
Five people were taken to local hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
What we don’t know:
Officials have not released the names of the two people who died.
The National Weather Service has not yet said how strong the tornado was or how far it traveled.
Local perspective:
Fallen trees blocked at least three roads across the area.
Power lines were knocked down in multiple places, but officials said power had been restored to most customers by Sunday night.
Authorities asked people to stay away from northeastern Jefferson County unless they had an emergency reason to be there.
The backstory:
The storm came less than two weeks after another round of severe weather produced more than 20 tornadoes across parts of Illinois and northwest Indiana on June 11.
What they’re saying:
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office thanked first responders and volunteers who helped with search and rescue efforts.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of those lost in this tragic event,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The Source: The information in this story came from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
ST. LOUIS – Sunday marked Father’s Day and the Summer Solstice; it’s been a tornado day, too.
Multiple storms across the region have had rotation that produced tornado touchdowns. As we wait for a cold front to pass through, more strong storms could be working through the region. Eventually, some dry time and some calm are in the works in for a few days this week. Rain and thunder are possible late week.
Meanwhile, a tornado watch was issued for most Illinois counties in the FOX 2 viewing area and nearly all of southern Illinois into Indiana until 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Tornado warnings were issued in Fayette and Marion counties until 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.
Just after 5 p.m., new tornado warnings were issued for Madison, St. Clair, and Clinton counties in the Metro East. An area of rotation was spotted on the FOX 2 Power Doppler just south of Collinsville around 5:10 p.m.
At least two tornadoes were spotted in Marion County, Illinois.
Beginning at 3 p.m., tornado warnings were issued for Madison, Bond, and Fayette counties in Illinois. Those warnings are expected to end by 4:45 p.m. A tornado warning was issued for Jefferson County, Illinois, until 5:30 p.m.
On the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, a severe thunderstorm watch was issued for Crawford, Dent, Iron, Jefferson, Madison, Phelps, Reynolds, St. Francois, and Washington counties until 1 a.m. Monday.
A flood advisory for St. Louis City, St. Charles and St. Louis counties ended at 5 p.m. Sunday.
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