By Kate Reynolds, September 18, 2023
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois Environment Protection Agency (IEPA), and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have terminated statewide testing for organochlorine pesticides in fish from Illinois lakes and rivers. Testing for other fish contaminates (methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) will continue.
Illinois has banned DDT and other similar organochlorine chemicals (a type of synthetic pesticide known to be highly toxic, slow to degrade, and prone to building up in the environment). But since 1974, the state has still tested for them because the chemicals are “environmentally persistent” and can build up in fish tissues. Since these levels have fallen to near zero over the last 50 years, the state can now stop testing for them.
“The progress made in improving the safety of fish found in Illinois waterways is an incredible victory for public health and a testament to the success of sensible health and safety regulations,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Banning dangerous pesticides like DDT has made our water cleaner, our food safer, and our state healthier.”
During the 1940s, organochlorine pesticides were prevalent in the United States. In 1972, concerns over DDT’s effect on people and wildlife, especially the bald eagle) led to a ban on U.S. agricultural use in the 1980s. With these chemicals no longer in use, the pesticides are no longer testing in unsafe amounts, making their testing no longer necessary.
“The work done through the Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program not only provides important information to residents regarding fish consumption, but it also shows the significant progress being made to reduce pollutants in Illinois waters,” said Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim. “Data clearly shows that these organochlorine pesticides are no longer prevalent in our waters or the fish that live in those waters, which is a testament to the achievements made through the Clean Water Act.”
The state enacted the Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program in the early 1970s, the protocol for testing fish from lakes, rivers, and streams. Lake Michigan is sampled annually, along with periodic testing of other public lakes. Testing reveals whether or not the samples contain metals, pesticides, or other dangerous chemicals at a level that would make fish unsafe for consumption.
“This exemplifies the strength of our agriculture community,” said Dr. Michael Woods, division manager of natural resources at the Department of Agriculture. “Illinois farmers are always seeking advancement in producing the highest yields using the best practices. To render any contaminant testing obsolete while Illinois farmers continue to produce at historic levels is a success story for the entire state.”