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Gender bender chemical atrazine widely contaminates U.S. public water supply

Emerging research increasingly indicates that the U.S. water supply is widely contaminated with the endocrine disrupting chemical atrazine, but that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking almost no action on the threat.

Atrazine is an herbicide widely sprayed on corn fields in the Midwest, and one of the most widely detected groundwater contaminants in the country. According to an analysis of state and federal records by the Chicago Tribune, atrazine has been detected in the drinking water of a million people in 60 Illinois communities over the past four years. Yet the EPA requires testing for the chemical only four times a year, meaning that short-term spikes of the toxin go undetected — and unregulated. [...]

Drinking water legislation inspired by Crestwood issue sent to Illinois Governor Quinn

SPRINGFIELD—Legislation inspired by a controversy over tainted water in Crestwood went to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn today as House lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to ensure citizens are notified when their drinking water is contaminated.

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EPA Raids Chicago Suburb Government Offices

Authorities have raided the government offices in a Chicago suburb accused of knowingly drawing drinking water from a contaminated well for more than two decades. [...]

Oil Spill Contaminates 3 Mile Section of the Des Plaines River – Chicago

The Associated Press is reporting that a holding tank at a Caterpillar facility in southwest suburban Chicago broke open , spilling around 65,000 gallons of oil sludge and contaminating the Des Plaines River, officials said. [...]