By Paul Francuch
When health officials find water quality at Lake Michigan beaches is unsafe for swimming, they quickly post warnings.
Those who boat, canoe, kayak, or fish along the Chicago and Calumet River systems do not enjoy the protection of environmental standards, however.
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) public health researchers have taken the first step to change that oversight through the Chicago Health, Environmental Exposure, and Recreation Study (CHEERS).
UIC received a $3.75 million contract from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to conduct a survey about possible negative health effects from exposure to area waterways.
“The idea is to come up with a water quality standard for the waterways,” said project leader Samuel Dorevitch, research assistant professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at UIC.
“In order to establish a water quality standard, there has to be a scientific basis,” Dorevitch explained. “This is an epidemiologic study, an observational study in which we’ll recruit people doing secondary water-contact activities on Chicago area waterways. In other words, activities other than swimming.
“We’ll determine the rate of illness for people who do these activities and how it relates to measures of water quality. In the end, we’ll have compiled enough data for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to set water quality standards for people enjoying activities on the waterways.”
Over the next 18 months, Dorevitch and his team hope to survey more than 9,000 people. They will canvass boaters and people who fish recreationally along the Chicago and Calumet River systems as well as Lake Michigan and the Skokie Lagoons.
They also will survey joggers, bikers, and others engaged in recreational activities along the lake or waterways who do not come in direct contact with the water.
Data from those surveyed will give biostatisticians a significant sample so they can differentiate health risks and accurately determine risk levels.
CHEERS canvassers will ask participants preliminary questions before their begin boating or fishing and then ask about ten minutes of survey questions when they finish their activities. Participants also will receive phone calls over three subsequent weeks to see if they developed any intestinal, skin, eye, respiratory, or ear infections or symptoms. Some participants may be visited by a nurse or doctor.
Participants will receive a t-shirt, a $15 gift card for completing the preliminary questions, and a $35 check for completing the follow-up questions.
Dorevitch said the study received significant input and feedback from local governmental and environmental groups to reflect their concerns. An international panel of reviewers with expertise in water quality, epidemiology, and infectious diseases also provided suggestions.
“I think everyone wants to see local water quality get better, and the public will benefit from a better understanding of how recreational water quality affects health,” Dorevitch said. “That’s something this project will address.”
For more information, call (312) 355-3629.
