It’s now illegal in Illinois to incinerate toxic chemicals known to cause cancer

A new Illinois law signed Wednesday made it illegal to incinerate a class of toxic chemicals known to cause cancer and other health problems.

Metro East lawmakers and environmental advocates raised concerns last year about burning PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, after the U.S. Department of Defense authorized a Sauget incinerator to dispose of the man-made chemicals.

The defense department has an interest in figuring out how to dispose of PFAS because they are a main ingredient in firefighting foam, which is used in particular at military installments such as Scott Air Force Base. The chemicals are more effective in putting out aviation and fuel fires than water. They’re also common in consumer products such as nonstick pans, waterproof clothes, microwave popcorn bags, fast food wrappers and stain-resistant carpets.

But they’re toxic. Decades of research connects PFAS to thyroid disease, low birth weight, reduced responsiveness to vaccines, increased cholesterol, liver damage, kidney cancer and testicular cancer.

The chemicals remain mostly unregulated throughout the United States.