Fish across four Illinois waterways were discover to be taint with ‘forever chemicals,’ also referred to as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
This discovery underscores the increasing presence of synthetic pollutants in our daily lives. These substances, now commonly found in a wide range of commercial and industrial products, pose significant risks to human health.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign conduct an analysis of nine fish species from 15 locations across four northern Illinois rivers to examine the presence of 17 types of PFAS.
PFAS contamination was present in every test site, with nearly all studied fish showing elevate levels of PFOS, a specific PFAS compound.
Joseph Irudayaraj, the principal researcher and a bioengineering professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, explain that while PFAS’s stability and durability make them valuable for industrial applications, these same characteristics also pose significant health and environmental risks.
“PFAS, which feature numerous carbon-fluorine bonds—among the strongest in organic chemistry—are notoriously difficult to decompose,” Irudayaraj explain. “Their remarkable stability makes them persist in the environment for extend periods.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are approximately 15,000 different PFAS chemicals. These substances are divide into two main categories: short-chain PFAS, which have fewer than six carbon-fluorine bonds, and long-chain PFAS, which possess six or more of these bonds.
Recently, numerous industries have adopt short-chain PFAS, believing them to be less harmful. However, this assumption has since been disproven.
PFAS are now present in drinking water, household items, food packaging, and agricultural products. In the United States, nearly 99% of individuals have detectable levels of PFAS in their bodies.
The study focus on fish from rivers in northern Illinois due to their close proximity to urban and industrial zones. Specifically, the research was conduct on fish residing in the Pecatonica River, Sugar River, Rock River, and Yellow Creek.
Tissue samples were gather from nine different species, such as bluegill, northern pike, common carp, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and walleye.
Researchers examine tissue samples for 17 types of PFAS chemicals. They detect the presence of these substances in fish collect from every testing location.
Contamination levels were found to be highest in top-of-the-food-chain fish species, such as channel catfish and northern pike, while they were significantly lower in herbivorous fish like bluegill.
The results raise serious concerns for local residents and individuals consuming fish from these areas. Industrial emissions and runoff can contribute to increase contamination.
Sport fishing enjoys widespread popularity in Illinois, as evidence by the issuance of more than 666,000 fishing licenses across the state in 2020.
“Additional research is need to thoroughly assess the presence and origins of PFAS throughout Illinois,” the researchers note.
“Understanding this data is essential for evaluating the spread and potential environmental risks of these substances.”
The study was publish in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
