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McHenry County Board of Health hears experts on microplastics and PFAS; presenter urges tap water and local policy steps
Summary
At its Aug. 18 meeting the McHenry County Board of Health heard a presentation from Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant on microplastics and PFAS, including study findings on environmental spread, human exposure estimates, and local steps to reduce risk such as favoring tap water and limiting single-use plastics.
Sarah, a researcher with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, told the McHenry County Board of Health on Aug. 18 that microplastics and related contaminants of emerging concern are widespread in freshwater and in people. "Ultimately, we consume about 52,000 microplastics particles a year," she said, and added that inhalation increases total exposure by roughly 69,000 particles annually.
Sarah summarized peer-reviewed studies and a 2017 global production analysis showing roughly 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced and that only about 7% has been recycled; she said about 20 million tons of plastic enter waterways each year. She described microplastics sources (production pellets, fragments, foam, microfibers from clothing) and emphasized that sampling methods vary, complicating direct comparisons across studies.
The presentation highlighted ecological consequences: a meta-analysis of 43 experiments found net negative effects on aquatic organisms—zooplankton were among the most affected—raising concerns about food-web impacts. On human health, Sarah cited recent small studies that detected microplastics in lungs, bloodstream and other tissues but acknowledged that evidence of health outcomes remains limited and that more research is needed.
She offered practical risk-reduction steps for individuals and organizations: prefer tap water over bottled water (she noted bottled-water pathways can increase microplastic intake), use reusable containers when appropriate, choose natural fibers where feasible, filter laundry outflow to trap fibers, and adopt policies to limit single-use plastics in county facilities. Sarah noted accessibility and equity considerations, for example that some residents need plastic straws for medical reasons.
The presenter also summarized PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a broad class of long-lasting chemicals historically used in products such as nonstick cookware and firefighting foam. She described exposure routes (inhalation, dermal, ingestion), noted the Illinois EPA’s statewide drinking-water testing, and said that while drinking water is a significant exposure pathway, consumer products account for a substantial share.
Board members asked about evidence strength, placenta/pregnancy transmission and whether microplastics can be removed from the body; Sarah said smaller particles can travel farther in tissue and that definitive human-health outcome studies are still limited. On incineration, she said licensed municipal incinerators employ emission controls but cautioned against open burning.
No formal board action was taken on the presentation itself. Scott Kajkanal, the county water resources specialist who introduced Sarah, reminded the board the county’s Water Forum is Sept. 10 at McHenry County College and provided flyers.
The county meeting packet and staff noted that some mitigation steps could be enacted locally (for example, reducing single-use plastics in county-owned buildings) while acknowledging trade-offs for low-income residents and accessibility needs.
