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According to the U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration, abandoned mines may still house containers with leaking toxic chemicals or explosives which can detonate without warning.(Adobe Stock)

Abandoned IL coal mines pose health, environmental complications

New legislation in Congress would hold coal producers accountable for cleaning up the mine sites they have abandoned, including tens of thousands of …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized clean air standards affecting heavy-duty trucks starting with the 2027 model year. (Adobe Stock)

Communities close to big box warehouses face health fallouts

A recent study by the Environmental Defense Fund showed communities near mega warehouses are exposed to more polluted air. More than 2 million …

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 2020-2022 report indicates 85% of the state's streams are

IL environmental network creates plan for cleaner waterways

Illinois rivers, lakes and groundwater have become unsafe for humans and wildlife. One organization has started the New Year with a "Clean Water …

U.S. House Budget Threats Jeopardize Proposed PFAS Regulations

Environmental groups say a proposal to cut $4 billion from the Environmental Protection Agency budget would gut the regulations designed to clean up t…

Illinois Environmental Group Seeks Ban on Pesticides Harmful to Bees

An Illinois group reported toxic pesticides are causing irreversible damage to young, developing bees, putting the bee population in decline and food …

Illinois is the third-largest consumer of coal in the country, using more than 39 million tons a year to generate electricity. (Wikimedia Commons)

Proposed EPA Rule Limits Toxic Emissions from Coal Plants

The Environmental Protection Agency is tightening rules to limit emissions of mercury and other harmful pollutants from coal-fired power plants…

The Illinois Poison Center urges parents to store household cleaning chemicals and other toxic substances on high shelves and out of sight of young children. (Pixel Image/Adobe Stock)

IL Poison Center Urges Families to Identify Household Toxins, Save Lives

National Poison Prevention Week is coming up, and the staff at the Illinois Poison Center is getting the word out to be aware of toxic substances …

There have been more than 700 toxic chemical disasters in the United States since 2020, according to the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters. (Adobe Stock)

Groups: EPA, Others Need to Step Up Oversight of Chemical Plants

Environmental groups in Illinois are pushing state and federal officials to tighten regulations on businesses that use toxic substances after a fire a…

The Bulldog Mine's permit was only valid for three years. Failure to break ground on the project in that time frame resulted in the permit being rescinded. (Adobe Stock)

IL Environmental Groups Celebrate Defeat of Bulldog Mine

Environmental groups are celebrating the scrapping of plans for the proposed Bulldog Mine in eastern Illinois. Indiana-based Sunrise Coal was issued …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most U.S. citizens have at least some PFAS in their bloodstreams. (Adobe Stock)

New IL Law Seeks to Limit PFAS-Based Air Pollution

Illinois has enacted a new law to prohibit the incineration of some PFAS-based substances. The man-made chemical compounds are most commonly …

The Environmental Protection Agency reports the transportation sector is the largest single contributor to America's annual greenhouse-gas emissions, comprising 27% of the total. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Diesel Engines Major Air Polluters in Illinois

Pollution from diesel engines can cause a variety of health issues, and a new report reveals some Illinois communities face higher risks from diesel …

Illinois' Partners for Conservation Fund, which has been around since the mid-1990s, supports conservation programs, including the Soil and Water Conservation Districts around the state. (Adobe Stock)

IL Budget Crunch Leaves Ag Conservation Funds in Danger

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Some Illinois farmers say they want to help protect natural resources, but incentives are crucial to making that happen. A …

Is the promise of higher speeds worth the possible health risks of 5G wireless technology? <br />(mohammad hassen/Pixabay)

Opponents Say Illinois Should Put Brakes on 5G

CHICAGO –Some Illinoisans are encouraging state leaders to put the brakes on the rollout of new 5G wireless technology. The Illinois House …

Airborne ethylene oxide pollution is the reason federal officials are recommending the Illinois Department of Public Health investigate cancer risks in and around the Village of Willowbrook. (Pixabay)

Illinois Community Searches for Answers Following Cancer Risk Report

WILLOWBROOK, Ill. – People in the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook are on edge after a federal report showing that the area faces some of the …

It�s been about two and a half months since U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials first said the agency was looking for space at military bases to house up to 20,000 unaccompanied minors. (Pixabay)

Migrant Detention Centers Probed Over Toxic Wastes

SPRINGFIELD, Ill – From the toxic stress of being separated from families, environmental and health advocates say they are now concerned about …

The Environmental Defense Fund is encouraging the Illinois Department of Children and Families to require child-care facilities to identify whether they have a lead service line. (Pixabay)

Advocates Seek Change on Proposed Lead Water-Testing Rules in Child Care Facilities

CHICAGO – Even in small doses, lead is a harmful element to consume. The effects can be drastic for children still developing, which is why …

There are millions of microbes in tap water, but most are harmless. (cdc.gov)

Vacation Time? Bacteria May Invade Your Home

URBANA, Ill. – Vacation season has kicked off for many on Spring Break, and summer is just around the corner – but scientists say when …

The asthma rate for children in Illinois is over 9 percent. (nih.gov)

Researcher: Government Could Better Protect Children from Toxins

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – How the environment impacts the health of Americans has long been a heated topic of discussion, and an expert on the …

Mayors of Chicago, Highland Park, Elgin, Evanston and Skokie signed a letter to EPA Chief Scott Pruitt, asking him to keep the Clean Power Plan in place. (whitehouse.gov)

As "Listening Sessions" Continue, Is EPA Listening?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Despite the listening sessions being held across the nation about whether to roll back the Clean Power Plan, environmental …

Brightly-colored medication might be mistaken for candy, a reminder to parents for Illinois' Poison Prevention Month. (cdc.gov)

Preventing Poisonings: Lock Up Those Meds

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Accidental medicine poisoning sends a child under age 6 to an emergency room every nine minutes in this country - and every …

Dynegy Energy has asked for a $400 million bailout, saying that without it, thousands of local jobs will be lost. (nih.gov)

Report: Power Supply Sufficient, No Bailout Needed

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new state report says Illinois has plenty of power, and environmental advocates say that means there's few reasons to …

Shoppers can help reduce plastic waste in the Great Lakes by skipping plastic. (noaa.gov)

Plastic Pollution Threatens Ecosystem in Great Lakes

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Advocates are hoping 2018 is a year of better water quality in the Great Lakes and oceans. Carolyn Box, the Science …

$Children at a school in Enfield, the town where Illinois regulators approved a fracking permit this year. A new study links fracking to low birth-weight infants. (il.gov)$

Study: Fracking Linked to Low Birth-weight Babies

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Pregnant women living next to fracked gas wells are more likely to have a low birth-weight baby - that's the finding in a …

Businesses and homeowners can plant plants and flowers that help pollinators thrive. (Virginia Carter)

NWF Challenge: Create a Million Pollinator Gardens

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The monarch butterfly population has declined by 90 percent over the last 20 years because of pesticides, parasites and …

Legislation in the U.S. House could mean more radioactive material moving through Illinois. (illinois.gov)

House Vote on Nuclear Storage Bill has Illinois Implications

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Environmental groups have a warning for the nation's leaders: Haste will make more waste. A House vote could come as soon as …

Three insecticides are likely to harm 97 percent of threatened or endangered species, studies say. (md.gov)

Dow Chemical Pushing Trump Administration to Drop Pesticide Studies

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A conservation group is raising questions about Dow Chemical's attempts to convince the Trump administration to drop studies that …

Small farmers in Illinois are convinced that mergers of giant chemical companies would hurt them financially. (Illinois.gov)

Sessions Urged to Reject Mega-Mergers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Nearly 325 organizations have signed a letter pressing new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make sure the Justice …

Big-Box Stores Become More "Bee-Friendly"

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — New tests found significant decreases in the use of bee-killing pesticides on "bee-friendly" plants. That’s good news …

Environmentalists are claiming a win now that a federal judge is allowing them to weigh in on the largest U.S. coal producer's bankruptcy hearings. (iStockphoto)

Illinois Looking for Better Deal in Coal Cleanup?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Peabody Energy, the largest coal producer in the U.S., reached a deal this week with several states on plans to cover the …

A proposed update to the EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act will severely limit the state's own safeguards, according to an Illinois consumer watchdog. (iStockphoto)

IL Watchdog: New Toxics Rules Bad for States

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - One step forward, two steps back. That's how some Illinois environmentalists describe new federal rules on toxic substances that …

Illinois' bad air quality makes life more difficult for local asthma sufferers, and some moms are urging state lawmakers to take action. (iStockphoto)

Asthma and Allergy Month: IL Moms Want Cleaner Air

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - It's National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, and a group of Illinois moms is asking lawmakers to help improve the state's …

The number of children in Illinois using and becoming sick from e-cigarettes is on the rise. (iStockphoto)

More IL Kids Exposed to E-Cigarettes

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – More young children in Illinois are being poisoned by electronic cigarettes, according to the Illinois Poison Center…

As heroin use continues to rise in Illinois, a private substance abuse network is opening one of the first so-called sober dorms in the Midwest. (iStockphoto)

Sober Dorms Expanding in IL as Heroin Crisis Continues

CHICAGO - A sober-living residence program for college-age adults is expanding in Illinois. The so-called sober dorm is slated to open in early July …

According to the American Lung Association, more than a million people in Illinois are living with health issues exacerbated by serious air-pollution problems. (iStockphoto)

16 Illinois Counties Get Failing Air-Quality Grades

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Air quality in Illinois is a mixed bag, according to the new State of the Air report from the American Lung Association. Out of 2…

Environmentalists and the Illinois Attorney General are concerned that Peabody Energy won't be able to pay for cleanup at its coal mine sites in the state. (iStockphoto)

Coal Mine Cleanup Could Cost IL Taxpayers Millions

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - One of the world's largest private coal companies is facing serious financial troubles. Illinois environmentalists are …

With the U.S. Senate stalling the so-called DARK Act, opponents of the bill are calling it a big win for consumers. (iStockphoto)

IL Watchdog Praising Senate Block on DARK Act

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill that opponents call the DARK Act, or Deny Americans the Right to Know. The bill would …

Illinois bird-lovers can take part in four free Eagle Day events in the state this weekend. (iStockphoto)

Conservationists Celebrate Success of Eagles in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The population of eagles in Illinois has hit record numbers in recent years, and conservationists are celebrating the bird's …

The BP refinery in Whiting, Ind. is no longer sending petcoke to South Chicago, but environmentalists are keeping an eye on where it's heading now. (iStockphoto)

Midwest Oil Refining Waste Spreading to the South

CHICAGO - Earlier this year, BP announced it would stop sending petcoke waste to a dumping site in Chicago. But now tons of the oil-refining waste is …

New Stanford University research shows Illinois could shift to 100 percent wind, water, and solar power by 2050. Credit: Iceman0/morguefile.com

100% Renewable Power in Illinois? It's Possible by 2050

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As the Paris climate talks are well into their second week, new research from Stanford University shows Illinois and other …

A consumer watchdog group is praising Lumber Liquidators for removing potentially toxic products from its stores. Credit: Dwight Burdette/Wikipedia, CC

Lumber Liquidators Removes Potentially Toxic Flooring from Stores

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – After a rough year for Lumber Liquidators, a consumer watchdog group says the major flooring retailer is making some …

Chicago volunteers help with an air monitor to measure diesel emissions. Credit: ELPC

Measuring Chicago's Diesel Pollution Problem

CHICAGO – Trying to get a handle on how much diesel pollution is being pumped into the air by Chicago's cars, trains and trucks is serious work…

Illinois Fair Trade Campaign members warn the TPP could hurt jobs across the state. Courtesy: IFTC.

Advocates: TPP Deal Could Hurt Illinois Jobs and Health

CHICAGO – With the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a step closer to becoming reality, some advocacy groups say the trade deal could end up …

A new report highlights how U.S. presidents have legal authority to keep 450 billion tons of climate pollution in the ground. Credit: MGDBoston/Morguefile

Presidential Power Could Mitigate Climate Pollution

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A new report from the Center for Biological Diversity highlights how President Barack Obama, or any other sitting president…

A poll finds air pollution is just as important to Latinos as immigration reform. Credit: Kenn W. Kiser

Survey: Latinos Care Deeply About Environmental Protection

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A new poll finds Latinos in Illinois and around the nation are deeply concerned about the environment. According to the survey …

Young Republicans want their party to address issues related to the environment and energy reform in tonight's GOP debate. Credit: J. Durham/Morguefile

GOP Debate: Pay Attention to the Environment, Say Young Republicans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Tonight, Republican candidates for president will square off in the campaign season's first debate in Cleveland, Ohio…

PHOTO: With swimming season gearing up, state health leaders are advising Illinoisans about the dangers of recreational water illnesses, and ways to prevent them. Photo credit: tat/Morguefile.

Water Illnesses: Things to Consider before Making Splash

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Pools are opening up around Illinois this week, but health experts say there are some things to keep in mind before making a …

PHOTO: Conservation and environmental groups are highlighting what they say is the destructive work of the Republican-led Congress' first 100 days under the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Photo credit: Laszlo Ilyes/Flickr.

Moms, Conservationists say Senate Failing at Protecting Illinoisans' Health

CHICAGO - The Republican-led Senate has earned a failing grade from conservation and environmental groups for their first 100 days. Gretchen …

PHOTO: A report from the Center for Effective Government finds residents and first responders may not be getting the information they need to prepare for potential chemical disasters. Photo credit: Duster/Morguefile.

A Disaster Waiting to Happen?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois is among the top states listed in a new report identifying often unknown chemical dangers. With today's second …

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IL: Toxics