Statewide: The fluoride debate

Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., wants to get fluoride out of the water supply. While most have claimed the addition as a public health success, some health experts are now concerned about emerging research. Original article online at: https://www.wvik.org/illinois/2025-01-16/statewide-the-fluoride-debate

Many west-central Illinois water systems would comply with possible fluoride removal

Some west-central Illinois water system operators say they would comply with the possible removal of fluoride that could come from the next presidential administration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.— President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services — has indicated that he wants to end the practice of water fluoridation in the United States. […]

Uranium hexafluoride released from Metropolis Honeywell plant; residents concerned about lack of communication

METROPOLIS, IL — Honeywell has announced that uranium hexafluoride, a toxic chemical compound, was released from its Metropolis, Illinois, plant on Monday. A nuclear engineer says uranium hexafluoride can have major health impacts. Shannon Dassing lives near the facility and is looking to move away, but that’s not the only thing that’s on her mind. Dassing says Honeywell […]

Researchers detect fluoride in water with new simple color change test.

Environmental contaminants like fluoride, lead and pesticides exist all around and even within us. While researchers have simple ways to measure concentrations of such contaminants inside lab environments, levels are much more difficult to test in the field. That’s because they require costly specialized equipment. Recent efforts in synthetic biology have leveraged cellular biosensors to […]

Honeywell Must Face Claims Over Leaked Air Toxins From Plant.

Plant used to make radioactive gas, later used for bombs Toxins spread into air, water of nearby community, suit says Honeywell International Inc. must still face some claims over its plant near Metropolis, Ill., that allegedly emitted air contaminated with radioactive and other toxic materials, according to a federal judge that narrowed two suits seeking […]

Attorney General Raoul files lawsuit and interim order against Brainerd Chemical Midwest LLC

CHICAGO, Ill. (WAND) – Attorney General Kwame Raoul is filing a lawsuit against Brainerd Chemical Midwest LLC (Brainerd Chemical) for allegedly allowing excess emissions of hydrogen fluoride from its chemical distribution facility in Danville, Illinois. Studies show hydrogen fluoride is a corrosive chemical that is harmful to human health, at low levels causing irritation to the […]

Public Notice: High Levels of Fluoride in Richmond, Illinois, water

Note from Fluoride Action Network: This is a shockingly poorly-written public notice. Because the Centers for Disease Protection and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Division of Water refuse to issue warnings to pregnant women and the parents of formula-fed infants not to drink any fluoridated water, this notice allows these highly vulnerable subsets […]

We are Water | From plastics to pipes: Who drinks Evanston’s tap water and why do some avoid it?

This is part five of an eight-article series by We are Water Evanston, a community-based participatory research project that explores our relationship with and concerns about water. For more information on this series, click here. Evanston lies on the shores of Lake Michigan, one of the most valuable freshwater sources in the world. Evanston has an award-winning water […]