Final Call for Involvement in Rockton PFAS Study

This is the last call for anyone who wants to be included in a University of Illinois PFAS research study. If you're interested, please copy and paste the template below with your responses and email it to Evan Schoepski at eschoepski@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Info Template:

Full name and address

Estimated distance from the Chemtool/Beloit Superfund site

How long you’ve lived at this address

Career or background

Do you currently have any soil or water samples?

Are you willing to allow researchers to collect samples at your property?

Do you have private well or municipal water?

Do you have children at home?

Best way to contact you (email, phone, text, etc.)

Are you interested in attending public meetings or helping with outreach?

What concerns you most about PFAS in Rockton?

From Evan Schoepski:

The University of Illinois is in the beginning stages of building and proposing a research project focused on PFAS contamination here in Rockton.

These "forever chemicals" have been linked to a number of health concerns, including kidney and testicular cancer, and this study is looking at how they show up in our environment and what we can do about it.

This is part of a federal Superfund research proposal, and Rockton was selected as a study site. Researchers from U of I in both Urbana-Champaign and Chicago will be leading the work.

Some of what’s planned for this summer and fall:

Listening to community concerns around health, water, and property

Forming a Community Advisory Group made up of local residents to help guide the project

Collecting and testing soil and water samples in areas residents are concerned about

Gathering household samples to better understand exposure

Providing information to local doctors and healthcare providers

Reviewing cancer data and making screening available where possible

Exploring practical steps like water filters and fish consumption advice

This project only works if the community is involved and informed from the start.

If you're interested in helping out, joining the advisory group, or just want to learn more, get in touch. We have an opportunity here to advocate for our town and help guide some serious research that could make a difference.