EPA Issues New Drinking Water Health Advisories; L-W Area Not Affected

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is an update to an earlier article published on Patch June 17. Read the original article by following this link.

FRANKFORT, IL — A nonprofit organization released an interactive map where users can track where "forever chemicals" were detected across the United States, based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency. The villages of Frankfort, New Lenox, Mokena and Manhattan were not listed in that data.

Human-made "forever chemicals" found in water supplies across the country, including numerous cities and subdivision in Illinois, are more dangerous than previously thought, and local utilities should install filters to remove them or at least tell customers how dangerous they are, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.

Polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are known as "forever chemicals" because of their durability in high heat and water, which means they remain in the environment for years without breaking down. They're found in a range of food and consumer products, and have been linked to infertility, thyroid problems and several types of cancer.

No state is untouched by PFAS contamination, according to a map compiled by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization sometimes criticized for exaggerating certain toxicity risks. But a growing body of scholarly and government research backs the assertion of both the EPA and EWG that even at low levels currently, these chemicals can cause harm over a person's lifetime.

The map released by EWG showed numerous Illinois towns and several military sites in Illinois that were identified as being at risk. Here's a sampling:

• Machesney Park: 374 PFAS
• Freeport: 239 PFAS
• Crest Hill: 92 PFAS
• Algonquin: 38 PFAS
• Aurora: 24 PFAS

The numbers reflect levels at the time of testing and do not reflect whether a water system is treating the water to reduce levels.