Editor's Note: This story was reported by Sophia Baldwin and the accompanying artwork created by Landon Smith as part of the Fall 2024 Kalamazoo Voices of Youth Program. The program is a collaboration between Southwest Michigan Second Wave and KYD Network in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, funded by the Stryker Johnston Foundation. The Voices of Youth Program is led by Earlene McMichael. VOY mentors were Maya James (writing) and Casey Grooten (art). 


KALAMAZOO, MI — In the late 1950s, paper manufacturers started dumping contaminants known as PCBs into the Kalamazoo River. PCBs stand for polychlorinated biphenyls. Fish swimming in waterways with these pollutants are unsafe to eat, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Kalamazoo Voices of Youth writer Sophia Baldwin learned this and more in researching the current status of the river, and, concerned, she had questions: What is being done to clean the river? What can happen if people eat the fish in the river? How are pollutant levels being monitored? 

Baldwin turned to Douglas McLaughlin, executive director of the Kalamazoo Watershed Council, for answers. The citizens’ group was founded in 1993 to assist and advise the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in restoring and protecting the river. McLaughlin shared information to help protect the community from water pollutants. 

“It's really valuable for people to know enough about where their water is coming from or even their food or all of that kind of thing to be able to ask those questions,” McLaughlin says.

What are PCBs?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency: “PCBs are a hazardous substance that can bioaccumulate and are a probable human carcinogen.” That means scientists and health professionals know the chemicals that cause cancer. PCBs last in the environment for over 100 years and spread to the environment with improper disposal or when there are industrial spills. In the United States, PCBs were banned due to human toxicity levels. PCBs are usually found at the bottom of the river and in the ground.

What's being done to help the Kalamazoo River?

Doug McLaughinThe Clean Water Act was implemented in 1948 and expanded in 1972, making it illegal to dump pollutants into water. Another thing that is helping the Kalamazoo River is the city of Kalamazoo is cleaning the river by sucking the contaminated mud from the bottom of the river. Douglas McLaughlin says cranes, backhoes, and hydraulic vacuum cleaners are being used to remove the mud from the river’s bottom. The city has to submit a report about the water quality.


Is the water in Kalamazoo safe?

“Toxic levels, or problem levels — from the point of view of prevention— we’re in a much better place now than we were 50, 60, 70 years ago,” says McLaughlin. “Our drinking water is measured for a whole range of contaminants to make sure that the levels are below the problem levels. With that being said, drinking water is safe to drink.”

How do fish in the Kalamazoo River get PCBs in their system? 

Small fish consume the mud that has PCBs in it and the bigger fish eat the smaller fish and that's how the PCB goes higher into the food chain. The PCB does not affect the fish. It does affect human health, though.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Being aware of what you're drinking is always a good thing. “Being concerned about the quality of drinking water is really important,” McLaughlin says. Another way to protect ourselves is not eating the fish in the river. Right now, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services officially says don't eat the fish from the Kalamazoo River.

Sophie Baldwin


Sophia Baldwin is a freshman at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She likes to skateboard, run, and spend time with her friends and family. Her favorite animals are cats and snakes.




Landon SmithLandon Smith is a 17- year-old homeschooled student. This is Landon's first Voices Of Youth cohort. Landon enjoys painting and reading in his free time, and also exploring downtown Kalamazoo.

Artist Statement: I have always enjoyed working with my hands with pencils, markers, and glue. I like having to use my imagination in order to create something. My focus area was how to protect yourself from pollution in Kalamazoo. I did research on different types of filtration devices and made a collage for it.