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McDonough County Voice

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Microplastic contamination of water supplies requires action | Opinion

Illinois possesses one of the most extensive and interconnected river systems in the United States. Major waterways including the Illinois River, Chicago River system, Kaskaskia, Sangamon, Rock and LaMoine flow through densely populated urban areas, intensive agricultural landscapes, and industrial corridors before joining the Mississippi River. This hydrological profile makes Illinois both a significant contributor to, and a downstream recipient of, microplastic pollution. The state’s combination of major municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure, intensive row-crop agriculture with widespread use of plastic agricultural products, and substantial urban impervious surfaces create micro and nano plastic sources that few other regions match. Environment Illinois and allied organizations have undertaken expanded statewide sampling projects in 2025 and 2026, surveying microplastic presence across dozens of rivers, lakes, and streams. While comprehensive results are still being compiled, preliminary findings confirm the pervasive presence of micro and nano plastics across Illinois water bodies of all sizes and types. Illinois operates hundreds of municipal wastewater treatment plants. Even high-efficiency plants release significant quantities of micro and nano plastics, particularly fibers and fragments. And as a leading agricultural state, Illinois’s extensive use of plastic mulch, silage wrap, irrigation tubing, and polymer-coated fertilizers introduces micro and nano plastics directly into farm

Illinois · 10-02