Estimated public health impact of concurrent mask mandate and vaccinate-or-test requirement in Illinois, October to December 2021.

BACKGROUND: Facing a surge of COVID-19 cases in late August 2021, the U.S. state of Illinois re-enacted its COVID-19 mask mandate for the general public and issued a requirement for workers in certain professions to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. The mask mandate required any individual, regardless of their vaccination status, to wear a well-fitting mask in an indoor setting. METHODS: We used Illinois Department of Public Health's COVID-19 confirmed case and vaccination data and investigated scenarios where masking and vaccination would have been reduced to mimic what would have happened had the mask mandate or vaccine requirement not been put in place. The study examined a range of potential reductions in masking and vaccination mimicking potential scenarios had the mask mandate or vaccine requirement not been enacted. We estimated COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations averted by changes in masking and vaccination during the period covering October 20 to December 20, 2021. RESULTS: We find that the announcement and implementation of a mask mandate are likely to correlate with a strong protective effect at reducing COVID-19 burden and the announcement of a vaccinate-or-test requirement among frontline professionals is likely to correlate with a more modest protective effect at reducing COVID-19 burden. In our most conservative scenario, we estimated that from the period of October 20 to December 20, 2021, the mask mandate likely prevented approximately 58,000 cases and 1,175 hospitalizations, while the vaccinate-or-test requirement may have prevented at most approximately 24,000 cases and 475 hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that mask mandates and vaccine-or-test requirements are vital in mitigating the burden of COVID-19 during surges of the virus.

Health Belief Model to Assess Mpox Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Residents and Staff, Cook County Jail, Illinois, USA, July-August 2022.

In summer 2022, a case of mpox was confirmed in a resident at the Cook County Jail (CCJ) in Chicago, Illinois, USA. We conducted in-depth interviews with CCJ residents and staff to assess mpox knowledge, attitudes, and practices; hygiene and cleaning practices; and risk behaviors. We characterized findings by using health belief model constructs. CCJ residents and staff perceived increased mpox susceptibility but were unsure about infection severity; they were motivated to protect themselves but reported limited mpox knowledge as a barrier and desired clear communication to inform preventive actions. Residents expressed low self-efficacy to protect themselves because of contextual factors, including perceived limited access to cleaning, disinfecting, and hygiene items. Our findings suggest correctional facilities can support disease prevention by providing actionable and tailored messages; educating residents and staff about risk and vaccination options; and ensuring access to and training for hygiene, cleaning, and disinfecting supplies.

IEUBK Modeling of Children's Blood Lead Levels in Homes Served by Private Domestic Wells in Three Illinois Counties.

Lead is known to impair neurocognitive development in children. Drinking water is routinely monitored for lead content in municipal systems, but private well owners are not required to test for lead. The lack of testing poses a risk of lead exposure and resulting health effects to rural children. In three Illinois counties, we conducted a cross-sectional study (n = 151 homes) examining water lead levels (WLLs), water consumption, and water treatment status to assess risk of lead exposure among residents using private water wells. Since blood lead levels (BLLs) were not available, EPA's Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) modeling was used to estimate the incremental contribution of WLL to BLL, holding all other sources of lead at their default values. Nearly half (48.3%) of stagnant water samples contained measurable lead ranging from 0.79 to 76.2 µg/L (median= 0.537 µg/L). IEUBK modeling showed BLLs rose from 0.3 to 0.4 µg/dL when WLLs rose from 0.54 µg/L (the tenth percentile) to 4.88 µg/L (the 90th percentile). Based on IEUBK modeling, 18% of children with a WLL at the 10th percentile would have a BLL above 3.5 µg/dL compared to 27.4% of those with a WLL at the 90th percentile. These findings suggest that the consumption of unfiltered well water likely results in increased blood lead levels in children.

Exploring the dietary practices and perceptions of African immigrants in Illinois- a qualitative study of immigrants from Nigeria and Congo.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies suggest an increased prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases among African immigrants with increased length of stay in the U.S. The objective of the current study is to understand the dietary practices and perceptions of recent African immigrant families. DESIGN: Focus group sessions were conducted with Nigerian and Congolese immigrant parents residing in Illinois. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods and focus group sessions were conducted via videoconference. Participants discussed dietary practices, meal preparation, and family mealtimes for their families. They also discussed experiences with eating different kinds of foods since arrival in the U.S. Verbatim transcription of focus group sessions were completed and deductive thematic analysis of transcribed data was conducted using NVivo (QSR International Pty Ltd. [2020] NVivo [version 12]). RESULTS: Twenty African immigrant parents (Mean age: 42 years, Female: 95%) residing in Northern and Central Illinois participated in a total of five focus group sessions. Seven themes were derived from the analysis. Participants had a positive attitude toward healthy diet and had a high level of interest in receiving educational resources to make healthier food choices. Participants preferred and mostly consumed foods they were familiar with before migration. A majority of the participants perceived 'American foods' as unhealthy, characterizing them as containing a high amount of sugar and salt. Parents reported that their school-aged children often preferred a western diet over traditional African meals. CONCLUSION: This study helps to understand unique diet-related practices and perceptions of recent Nigerian and Congolese African immigrants in Illinois. Findings could help to inform cultural adaptation of evidence-based nutrition education programs for these groups of African immigrants.

The Role of Temperature, Wind Speed, and Precipitation on the Abundance of Culex Species and West Nile Virus Infection Rate in Rural West-Central Illinois.

While most research on West Nile virus (WNV) and its main vector, the Culex mosquito, has been conducted in laboratory or urban settings, studies with field-caught mosquitoes in rural areas, such as west-central Illinois, are lacking. The objective of this research was to investigate key abiotic factors using macroclimate data, including temperature, precipitation, and wind speed, to determine their influence on field-caught mosquito abundance in 4 rural counties in Illinois from 2014 to 2016. Additionally, the relationship between minimum infection rate (MIR) and thermal time was examined. Using gravid traps at 15 sites, Culex mosquitoes were collected twice a week. A total of 5,255 adult female Culex mosquitoes (Cx. pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus, and Cx. restuans) were collected in 2014; 9,138 in 2015; and 5,702 in 2016. Regression models were developed based on outcomes of relationships between field-caught mosquitoes and abiotic factors. Precipitation and thermal time had the most significant relationship with mosquito abundance (r2 = 0.993 and r2 = 0.993, respectively), while wind speed was less (r2 = 0.714). The greatest number of Culex and the highest annual MIR were observed in 2015, which was also the driest of the 3 sampling seasons. Mosquito abundance was observed to increase with warmer degree days and MIR was found to increase with abundance in mosquitoes. These models can be used for other mosquito surveillance and monitoring studies in various climate types and environments.

Suicide Methods and Trends Across Race/Ethnicity, Age, and Sex Groups in Chicago, Illinois, 2015-2021.

Objectives. To measure differences in suicide rates across race/ethnicity, age, and sex groups in Chicago, Illinois, from 2015 to 2021. Methods. We calculated the incidence rate and annual percentage change in suicides among Asian, Black, Latino/a, and White persons in Chicago. We also analyzed patterns in suicide method across race/ethnicity, age, and sex groups. Results. Suicides increased significantly among Black males (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 1.20), Black females (IRR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.33), and Latino males (IRR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.11, 1.38) between 2015 and 2021. Suicides decreased overall among White Chicagoans during this period. A significantly greater proportion of Black males than Black females died by suicide using a firearm (55.79% vs 24.05%; P < .001). Similar results were detected for Latino males and females (32.99% vs 9.09%; P = .001) and White males and females (30.10% vs 11.73%; P < .001). Conclusions. Black persons in Chicago were the only group to experience significant increases in suicide among both males and females from 2015 to 2021, although specific methods used varied by race/ethnicity and sex group. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(3):319-328. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307511).

Saturated buffers: Improvements and issues.

Saturated buffers are a newly developed agricultural best management practice used to redirect tile flow away from waterways, thereby mitigating nutrient losses and downstream eutrophication. This study evaluated the potential benefits of a novel saturated buffer design, which included pitchfork-shaped (PF) dispersion lines and a backflow check valve, that was installed alongside a traditional or standard (ST) buffer on a field in Moultrie County, Illinois, in the spring of 2019. Daily flow measurements and routine water samples were used to monitor the movement of water through both buffers and estimate nutrient loads. During observation days in 2020 and 2021, the PF buffer diverted 35% and 1.9% of incoming tile flow, respectively, while the ST buffer increased effluent rates by 116% and 137% over the same period. Both the PF and ST buffers experienced backflow from 30% to 47% of the monitoring period, well above the often reported 5%. Ultimately, the efficacy of saturated buffers could be improved with minimal, low-cost additions to their designs. Check valves are a simple supplement to saturated buffer design that can enhance flow diversion and potential nutrient removal. Added dispersion lines provide more opportunity for diversion of tile flow; however, they require more land to be removed from agricultural production and could increase backflow volumes, so the costs and benefits should be weighed.

Celebrating Magnet® Nursing Excellence-Meet the Recipients of the 2023 National Magnet Nurse of the Year® Awards and ANCC Magnet Prize®.

ABSTRACT: This month's Magnet® Perspectives column spotlights the recipients of the 2023 American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Program® National Magnet Nurse of the Year® (MNOY) awards and the ANCC Magnet Prize®, sponsored by Press Ganey, recognized during the colocated ANCC National Magnet Conference® and the ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® in Chicago, Illinois, October 12 to 14, 2023. The MNOY awards recognize 5 clinical nurses in Magnet designated organizations who demonstrate outstanding contributions in innovation, consultation, leadership, and professional risk taking. The ANCC Magnet Prize, sponsored by Press Ganey, recognizes a Magnet organization whose nursing team spearheaded exemplary achievements including initiative(s) in healthcare delivery and research leading to innovations in patient care services. Press Ganey sponsors the Magnet Prize by providing a $125 000 purse to further develop and advance its innovative program/project.

An investigation of 3M Cordova, IL production worker's per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances biomonitoring results and mortality experience.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a wide-ranging group of chemicals that have been used in a variety of polymer and surfactant applications. While 3M Cordova, Illinois was not one of 3M's primary manufacturing facilities for the legacy long-chain PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS), it has been a major manufacturing site for short-chain PFAS (compounds that are or may degrade to PFBS or PFBA). The purpose of this research focused on: 1) an analysis of biomonitoring data of employees and retirees, and 2) an analysis of the cohort mortality of workers from 1970 to 2018. Employees had higher PFBS and PFBA serum concentrations than the retirees, while retirees had higher concentrations for PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS. Compared to the 2017-2018 NHANES data, employees' PFOS and PFHxS concentrations in 2022 were two-fold higher, with PFOA levels comparable. These NHANES data did not include serum PFBS or PFBA. Cross-sectional trends of PFOS and PFOA levels from 1997 to 2022 showed PFOS declined from 151 ng/mL to 10.4 ng/mL. Similarly, PFOA decreased from 100 ng/mL to 1.5 ng/mL. A longitudinal analysis of 48 participants with measurements in both 2006 and 2022 showed concentrations decreased by 74% for PFOS and 90% for PFOA. In the mortality study, 1707 employees who worked 1 day or longer were followed for an average of 25.6 years and had 143 (8%) deaths. There were no significantly elevated risks for any specific cause of death, regardless of latency period (0 or 15 years). While no specific PFAS exposures were examined, worker mortality experience (1970-2018) was analyzed by major departments representing primary work areas. Employees and retirees at the Cordova facility continue to have elevated PFOS and PFHxS serum concentrations compared to the general population, however, their legacy PFAS concentrations have declined over time, consistent with the estimated serum elimination half-lives of these PFAS in humans assuming nominal ambient exposures. For PFBS and PFBA, the results indicated no long-term accumulation in the blood likely due to their short serum elimination half-lives. After nearly 50 years of follow-up, this Cordova workforce showed no increased risk of mortality from cancer or any other specific cause of death.

CAMPYLOBACTER HYOINTESTINALIS ISOLATION FROM HOWLER (ALOUATTA CARAYA) AND SPIDER MONKEYS (ATELES FUSCICEPS ROBUSTUS) AT A ZOOLOGIC FACILITY IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS.

Campylobacter hyointestinalis was initially isolated from an asymptomatic black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) in a routine fecal culture examination. Fecal cultures from other individuals in this group and an adjacently housed black-headed spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps robustus) group recovered C. hyointestinalis from all but one of the individuals sampled (1.1 spider monkeys and 2.1 howler monkeys). Concurrently, one spider monkey presented with acute onset severe rectal prolapse and diarrhea. Whole-genome sequencing results of C. hyointestinalis isolates from all individuals were homologous and closely related to Campylobacter hyointestinalis subsp. hyointestinalis TTU_618, a strain typically associated with environmental samples. In addition, two cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) expressing gene clusters, cdt-I and cdt-II, were identified in all isolates. These results suggest C. hyointestinalis is transmissible to both howler monkeys and spider monkeys, though the origin of infection and whether it is transmissible between these species is undetermined.

Applied denitrifying bioreactor cost efficiencies based on empirical construction costs and nitrate removal.

Adoption of edge-of-field conservation practices, such as denitrifying bioreactors, may be intrinsically linked to barriers associated with cost. However, most previous bioreactor cost efficiency assessments assumed values for either costs and/or nitrate removal. The objective of this work was to use actual construction costs as well as monitored nitrate removal to develop empirical cost efficiencies for eight full-size bioreactors in Illinois, USA. Capital construction costs were obtained via invoices or personal communications. A cash-flow discounting procedure was used to develop an equal annualized cost for each bioreactor assuming two media recharges over a 24-y planning horizon. These costs were combined with monitored nitrate removal based on one to six years of monitoring per site. Construction costs averaged $12,250 ± $7520 across the eight sites (or, $16,020 ± $9960 in 2023 price levels) but considering one of the sites was a paired bioreactor system, costs averaged $10,890 per bioreactor unit. Drainage treatment area-based cost averaged $132/ha-y and treatment area was strongly correlated with capital costs (R2 = 0.90; p = 0.001). The bioreactors averaged $108/m3 of woodchips and available federal government conservation programs could have offset an average of 70% of this cost. Monitored nitrate removal across 27 site-years resulted in a median of $33/kg N-y removed. This mass-based cost efficiency was higher than most previous assessments because the monitored nitrate removal for the study sites was lower than has been previously assumed or modeled. Future reporting about bioreactor recharge timing and cost will help guide assessment and planning. Water quality planning efforts should also consider the increasingly important engineering design costs, which were not included here. Suggested research and outreach to improve bioreactor cost efficiencies involves scaling the physical capacity of this technology for larger treatment areas, revisiting the use of low-cost non-standard fill media, and providing practical construction training.

Female Homicide Victims in Cook County, Illinois: A Retrospective Review.

ABSTRACT: Female homicide is a broad term that includes any homicide in which the victim is a female, representing the most extreme form of violence against women. This study investigated the characteristics of female homicides to determine the types and characteristics of injury, circumstances of the events, and other aspects in this specific population. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office files were searched for homicides in female subjects between January 2017 and January 2022, with no limits for age, race, or cause of death. A total of 527 cases met the criteria. Most homicides occurred in Chicago during the summer. The most common cause of death was firearm(s) wounds, followed by sharp force traumas, asphyxia, and blunt force injuries. The remaining deaths were due to combined and "other" mechanisms. Different patterns of injuries were observed at the autopsy. Alleged offenders were mostly male subjects and were frequently in a romantic relationship with the victim, and the reasons for homicide were related to jealousy and personal conflicts. This study offers an overview of homicidal deaths in female subjects in a large metropolitan area.

Evidence on COVID-19 Mortality and Disparities Using a Novel Measure, COVID excess mortality percentage: Evidence from Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

COVID-19 mortality rates increase rapidly with age, are higher among men than women, and vary across racial/ethnic groups, but this is also true for other natural causes of death. Prior research on COVID-19 mortality rates and racial/ethnic disparities in those rates has not considered to what extent disparities reflect COVID-19-specific factors, versus preexisting health differences. This study examines both questions. We study the COVID-19-related increase in mortality risk and racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 mortality, and how both vary with age, gender, and time period. We use a novel measure validated in prior work, the COVID Excess Mortality Percentage (CEMP), defined as the COVID-19 mortality rate (Covid-MR), divided by the non-COVID natural mortality rate during the same time period (non-Covid NMR), converted to a percentage. The CEMP denominator uses Non-COVID NMR to adjust COVID-19 mortality risk for underlying population health. The CEMP measure generates insights which differ from those using two common measures-the COVID-MR and the all-cause excess mortality rate. By studying both CEMP and COVID-MRMR, we can separate the effects of background health from Covid-specific factors affecting COVID-19 mortality. We study how CEMP and COVID-MR vary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and time period, using data on all adult decedents from natural causes in Indiana and Wisconsin over April 2020-June 2022 and Illinois over April 2020-December 2021. CEMP levels for racial and ethnic minority groups can be very high relative to White levels, especially for Hispanics in 2020 and the first-half of 2021. For example, during 2020, CEMP for Hispanics aged 18-59 was 68.9% versus 7.2% for non-Hispanic Whites; a ratio of 9.57:1. CEMP disparities are substantial but less extreme for other demographic groups. Disparities were generally lower after age 60 and declined over our sample period. Differences in socio-economic status and education explain only a small part of these disparities.

Statewide Implementation of Universal Third-Trimester Repeat HIV Testing in Illinois.

OBJECTIVE: This article aims to assess statewide uptake of HIV repeat testing in the first 2 years after the implementation of an amendment to the Illinois Perinatal HIV Prevention Act (IPHPA) mandating universal repeat HIV testing in the third trimester. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective, population-based study of all birthing individuals in Illinois (2018-2019). Data were collected using the state-mandated closed system of perinatal HIV test reporting. We evaluated the incidence of mother-infant pairs with negative early tests and repeat third-trimester tests (RTTTs) performed in adherence with the law, as well as the timing of the performance of the RTTTs (outpatient vs. inpatient). Chi-square tests of trend by quarter were performed to ascertain sustainability. RESULTS: Of 138,805 individuals delivered in 2018, 80.6% presented with early test and RTTTs. In 2018, outpatient RTTTs improved from 71.8% (quarter 1) to 85.1% (quarter 4; p < 0.001). In 2018, the proportion of mother-infant dyads who received testing that was adherent to the IPHPA Amendment was 92.1, 95.5, 96.7, and 96.4% in quarters 1 through 4, respectively (p < 0.001). In 2019, outpatient RTTTs performance remained high (87.4%) and stable (p = 0.06). In 2019, 99.9% of mother-infant dyads had testing adherent to the mandate in quarters 1 through 4 (p = 0.39). Of individuals who presented without RTTTs, 93.5% (2018) and 98.8% (2019) underwent inpatient testing before delivery. CONCLUSION: Implementation of RTTTs in Illinois was rapid, successful, and sustained in its first 2 years. Public health methodologies from Illinois may benefit other states implementing RTTT programs. KEY POINTS: · In 2018, Illinois enacted statewide RTTT for HIV among all parturients.. · In 2019, over 99% of mother-infant dyads had documentation of both early and repeat HIV testing before hospital discharge.. · Implementation of repeat third-trimester HIV testing in Illinois was rapid, successful, and sustained in its first 2 years.. · Public health methodologies from Illinois may benefit other states implementing similar programs..

Impact of Coronavirus Disease-era Clinical Trial Reform on Cancer Trial Access in Rural/Underserved Regions of the Midwest.

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic refocused the cancer community on bringing clinical trials closer to patients and increasing access for traditionally underserved communities. Pandemic-era deregulation increased flexibility with telemedicine visits, less frequent testing, and the ability to have tests done locally. This study evaluates the impact of 2020 cancer clinical trial reform on trial accessibility in rural/underserved regions of the Midwest. METHODS: Publicly available clinicaltrials.gov data was accessed from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2022 for the 3 leading causes of new cancer cases in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Indiana. Interventional trials were categorized based on location using corresponding "Rural-Urban Commuting Area" codes (urban/metropolitan, suburban/micropolitan, small town/rural, and isolated/rural) and categorized as pre versus postpandemic (using March 15, 2020, when national regulatory guidelines were modified). Locations of trial offerings from pre and postpandemic dates were analyzed by paired t test. Comparison of trial location category by state and cancer type was analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance with pairwise multiple comparisons made using the Tukey-Kramer method. RESULTS: Pandemic-era deregulation had no impact on increasing trial availability in suburban and small-town/rural locales ( P = 0.1259). Only 18% of trials were offered outside of urban areas, with 15% in suburban and 3% in small town/rural areas. Results varied by state ( P < 0.0001) with Illinois offering the most suburban and small-town trial availability (27%) compared with Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee (18%, 6%, and 2%, respectively). Trial availability in rural versus urban areas did not differ by cancer type ( P = 0.07197). CONCLUSIONS: More work must be done to increase access to cancer clinical trials in rural and suburban areas of the United States.

Adverse Delivery and Neonatal Outcomes Among Women with Severe Maternal Morbidity in Illinois, 2018-2019.

Objective: To examine adverse delivery outcomes from 2018 to 2019 severe maternal morbidity (SMM) cases that were reviewed by facility-level review committees in Illinois (n = 666) and describe the burden of adverse delivery outcomes among demographic subgroups, SMM etiology, and whether the SMM event was potentially preventable. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive analysis of the SMM review cohort. Consistent with expert recommendations to identify SMM for hospital quality review, SMM was defined as any intensive care or critical care unit admission and/or transfusion of four or more units of packed red blood cells from conception to 42 days postpartum. Adverse delivery outcomes were fetal death, low birthweight, preterm birth, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and 5-minute Apgar score <7. Chi square and Fisher's exact tests compared maternal demographic and delivery characteristics between the SMM sample and 2018-2019 deliveries in Illinois. Logistic regression modeled the associations between primary cause of morbidity, maternal race/ethnicity, adverse delivery outcomes, and opportunities to alter the outcome to assess whether the burden of adverse birth outcomes was distributed evenly across subcategories of the cohort. Results: Overall, 53.9% of women with SMM had at least one adverse delivery outcome. SMM events owing to preeclampsia/eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.37-8.24) and infection/sepsis (aOR = 4.40, 95% CI = 1.79-11.04) were more likely to be accompanied by adverse delivery outcomes compared with hemorrhage-related SMM. Non-Hispanic Black women with SMM were more likely to have an adverse delivery outcome compared with non-Hispanic White women with SMM (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.01-3.02). Conclusion: A greater proportion of the SMM review cohort experienced adverse delivery outcomes compared with the overall birthing population in the state. Non-Hispanic Black women with SMM were almost twice as likely to have an adverse delivery outcome compared with non-Hispanic White women.

First report of severe tolpyralate sensitivity in corn (Zea mays) discovers a novel genetic factor conferring crop response to a herbicide.

BACKGROUND: Tolpyralate, a relatively new inhibitor of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), is registered for postemergence use in all types of corn (Zea mays L.) and has a record of excellent crop tolerance. A report of severe crop injury to sweet corn inbred (XSEN187) led to the following objectives: (i) determine whether sensitivity to tolpyralate in XSEN187 exists, and if confirmed, (ii) determine the genetic basis of tolpyralate sensitivity, and (iii) screen other corn germplasm for sensitivity to tolpyralate. RESULTS: Inbred XSEN187 was confirmed sensitive to tolpyralate. Inclusion of methylated seed oil or nonionic surfactant in the spray volume was necessary for severe crop injury. Tolpyralate sensitivity in XSEN187 is not conferred by alleles at Nsf1, a cytochrome P450-encoding gene (CYP81A9) conferring tolerance to many corn herbicides. Evidence suggests that tolpyralate sensitivity in XSEN187 is conferred by a single gene mapped to the Chr05: 283 240-1 222 909 bp interval. Moreover, tolpyralate sensitivity was observed in 48 other sweet corn and field corn inbreds. CONCLUSIONS: Severe sensitivity to tolpyralate exists in sweet corn and field corn germplasm when the herbicide is applied according to label directions. Whereas the corn response to several other herbicides, including HPPD-inhibitors, is conferred by the Nsf1 locus, corn sensitivity to tolpyralate is the result of a different locus. The use of tolpyralate should consider herbicide tolerance in inbred lines from which corn hybrids were derived, whereas alleles that render corn germplasm sensitive to tolpyralate should be eliminated from breeding populations, inbreds, and commercial cultivars. © 2023 Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc and The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.