CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago River is a little cleaner thanks to thousands of volunteers.
Now in its 27th year, Chicago River Day cleanup and land restoration work put on by Friends of the Chicago River is aimed at improving and protecting the Chicago River system for people, plants, and animals. For the first time this year, seven locations out of the 65 will analayze the trash collected to better understand where litter comes from and how it moves.
Loyola University acquatic biologist Tim Hoellein Ph.D, has examined hundreds of fish from the Chicago River and found more than 90 percent contained bits of plasic. He said this affects aquatic wildlife in the Chicago River in several different ways.
"In some cases, plastics may pass through the digestive system without interaction. In other cases we've seen that plastics disrupt and injure the digestive systems of fish," Hoellein said.
The litter analysis project is part of the Friends-initiated Litter Free Task Force that includes representatives from Waste Management, Mars Wrigley Foundation, Shedd Aquarium, and REI Co-Op as well as Dr. Hoellein.
Hoellein said the goal of the cleanup is to prioritize solutions for the river and its wildlife.
The Chicago River Day has removed more than 600 tons of trash since it began. Founded in 1979, Friends of the Chicago River is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve and protect the Chicago River for people, plants, and animals. It has over 10,000 volunteers and advocates.