For Immedate Release                                                                                                                                              

April 15, 2026

IDPH Issues Updated Sport Fish Consumption Advisories
New PFOS guidelines result in new restrictions on fish from certain waterways

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued its annual update of
advisories related to the consumption of sport fish caught in Illinois waterways. Fish are tested
statewide by the Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program for polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and methylmercury. Results are used to issue
advisories which detail how frequently fish from various waterways can be eaten without posing a
health risk.

“As the weather warms up, Illinois residents have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful outdoor
recreation available across the state like hiking, swimming, and fishing,” said IDPH Director Dr.
Sameer Vohra. “When fishing, it is important to follow the guidelines and be aware of the latest
advisories to make sure fish are caught and consumed in the safest way possible.”

The majority of this year’s updates stem from the adoption of more stringent advisory guidelines for
perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a PFAS chemical that is commonly detected in fish. The new

PFOS guidelines resulted in the following updates this year: 
       

        • Do Not Eat advisories were issued for Largemouth Bass in Campus Lake (Southern Illinois
        University – Carbondale) and Monee Reservoir.

        • Guidance limiting consumption to no more than one meal per month was issued for various
        fish species in the following bodies of water: the Calumet River system, Campus Lake
        (Southern Illinois University – Carbondale), Chaminwood Lake, Chicago River system, Lake
        Calumet, Lake Zurich, Midlothian Reservoir, Monee Rerservoir, Randolph County Lake,
        Waukegan South Harbor, and Wolf Lake.

        • Additional advisories were issued that restrict consumption to no more than one meal per
        week. These PFOS advisories, as well as all other fish advisories currently in effect, can be
        found at fish-advisory-tables-2026.pdf.

IDPH maintains an interactive Fish Advisory Map that includes consumption advisories for more
than 100 publicly accessible bodies of water across the state.

In addition to the site-specific updates, a statewide methylmercury advisory remains in place for all
Illinois waters. IDPH recommends that women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant,
and children less than 15 years of age eat no more than one meal per week of predatory fish (e.g.,
bass, walleye, salmon). More information can be found at Fish Advisories (illinois.gov)