‘Do not eat’ the fish caught in this Illinois waterway, IDPH warns

LEE COUNTY, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a warning to residents to avoid eating fish caught in a waterway contaminated with forever chemicals.

The IDPH has issued a Do Not Eat advisory for all of the fish in Franklin Creek in Lee County, and the nearby ponds in the Franklin Creek State Natural Area due to high levels of per- and polyfluoroakyl substances (PFAS).

The IDPH has already issued guidance on the consumption of fish from other Illinois bodies of water, including Lake Zurich, Crab Orchard Lake, Wolf Lake, Lake Michigan, Waukegan North Harbor, Sycamore Lake, Midlothian Reservoir, and Chicago River, saying fish caught there should only be consumed once a month.

“Fishing in Illinois waters is a great recreational activity that often leads to delicious meals,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “To make sure each of those catches are safe and healthy, please visit our Fish Advisory Map to get the most up to date information on Illinois’s consumption advisories.”

In addition, a statewide methylmercury advisory is in place for all Illinois waters, urging women who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant, and children under 15-years of age avoid more than one meal per week of Illinois-caught bass, walleye, and salmon.

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