It’s a curious acronym — PFAS — and it stands for a family of chemicals that’s in most homes and being detected in an increasing number of people’s water systems in Michigan and other states and provinces.
Research is only beginning to determine the health effects and what, if any, treatment there might be. What can people do to protect themselves and their families? And at what cost?
Explore Great Lakes Now’s coverage of the crisis and learn about what you can do to address this issue.
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Tests show PFAS contamination in 500 French Island wells
Wisconsin state officials have been supplying bottled water to island residents.
Raining PFAS: Amount of PFAS found is outpacing legacy contaminants
A basin-wide precipitation monitoring program is finding PFAS showing up all around the Great Lakes, from Chicago to Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Wisconsin DNR issues fish consumption warnings for Yahara chain
The recommendations come after tests revealed elevated levels of PFAS in several fish species in lakes Monona, Kegonsa and Waubesa.
Big Convener: Watershed councils provide critical support across municipal boundaries
Great Lakes Now talked with Rebecca Esselman, executive director of the nonprofit Huron River Watershed Council, about the role of watershed councils in conservation, and government-community partnerships.
PFAS News Roundup: Companies hid dangers from FDA, professor documents stories, study shows high levels in fertilizer
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
PFAS chemicals found in a third of water samples, state says
Of more than 400 sites tested across Pennsylvania, about one-third were found to contain one of the chemicals.
‘The middle of a massive contamination’: Residents of Wisconsin region struggle with aftereffects of dangerous ‘forever chemicals’
Four years after a facility disclosed water contamination in the surrounding community, residents and locals deal with the impact of PFAS.
Federal Agencies Plan to Investigate Links between PFAS Exposure and Viral Illness
Two federal health agencies are planning to investigate potential links between exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals and susceptibility to viral illnesses like COVID-19.
Protestors rally for clean water outside a Wurtsmith Air Force Base Restoration Advisory Board meeting on June 6, 2018 in Oscoda. Members of the NOW (Need Our Water) group, and other local residents, want the Air Force to take responsibility for high levels of PFAS contamination leaching from the base. (Jake May | MLive.com)
PARTNER CONTENT
The following reporting is provided by MLive Media Group, our partner on The Forever Chemicals series.
Oscoda residents say ‘enough’ after 9 years of PFAS with no cleanup plan
Representatives from a number of Michigan communities—Oscoda, Flint, Detroit and Belmont among them—gathered on Wednesday to call on the U.S. Air Force for action on PFAS cleanup.
The Forever Chemicals: MLive Reporters and Great Lakes Now engage Sustainable Brands 2019 audience
After a documentary screening at the Sustainable Brands 2019 conference in Detroit, Great Lakes Now hosted an audience discussion with the MLive Media Group reporters who have been leading the coverage of the PFAS issue in Michigan.
PFAS pollution already costing Michigan communities millions
Michigan residents may be in line to pay for the fixes to PFAS contamination for years to come.
Digital Credits
“The Forever Chemicals” initiative was produced by Rob Green and Sandra Svoboda.
Digital Designer: Shelby Jouppi
Digital Video: Angela Brayman, Marie Gould, Rob Green, Zosette Guir, Matt Ilas, William Kubota, Sandra Svoboda, Jordan Wingrove, Ernie Zinger
With additional production support and partnership from MLive Media Group