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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PFAS News Roundup: Huron River contamination levels drop, New York PFAS cleanup could be delayed
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Hunters need to avoid contaminated game
Deer hunters have more to worry about than just COVID-19 and the flu. On the beware list: a group of chemicals known as PFAS and lead from ammunition.
PFAS News Roundup: Landfills, Wisconsin action plan, AGs urge congress to be tough on PFAS
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Michigan PFAS activist has cancer, says she’s not surprised
Sandy Wynn-Stelt was in Great Lakes Now’s documentary on PFAS, “The Forever Chemicals.”
Explainer: Who regulates U.S. drinking water, and how?
Federal, state and local governments all have a hand in protecting public water systems and private wells from contamination.
Michigan governor releases $500 million water infrastructure plan
The initiative, dubbed MI Clean Water, calls for creating a pot of money from which local governments could apply for grants or loans to improve their water treatment systems.
Citizen Excellence: Sandy Wynn-Stelt receives EPA award for efforts to combat PFAS
Wynn-Stelt is featured in Great Lakes Now’s documentary, “The Forever Chemicals.”
PFAS News Roundup: PFAS puts pregnancies at risk, Nestle and La Croix among waters with elevated PFAS
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
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