What is CHEERS?

CHEERS is the Chicago Health, Environmental Exposure, and Recreation Study, an ongoing research project of outdoor recreation and health.  The CHEERS research study evaluates the connection between recreational water quality and health. People doing outdoor exercise in and around Chicago, especially on or near bodies of water, may be eligible for enrollment.

Why is this research being done?

The study is designed to evaluate the health risks of water recreation activities other than swimming and jet skiing.  People who enroll in CHEERS fall into one of two groups:

1. Those who canoe, kayak, row, fish and go boating, and
2. Those whose outdoor activities that don’t involve water contact (like jogging, cycling or playing tennis).

What we do

CHEERS researchers interview people “in the field” (before and after their outdoor activity) and again over the phone.  We also test the water at rivers, channels, lakes, and lagoons in the greater Chicago area.  Read more about water quality and health here.

Who is doing this research?

CHEERS is being conducted by a team of epidemiologists, environmental scientists, infectious disease researchers, and statisticians, at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, under the leadership of Dr. Sam Dorevitch.  The research is funded by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.