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: PFAS in Lake Superior smelt, McDonalds drops PFAS packaging, White House weakened EPA guidelines
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Tests reveal PFAS contamination in 40 La Crosse-area wells
The findings come after La Crosse, Wisconsin, tested more than 100 private wells downstream from the La Crosse Regional Airport
PFAS News Roundup: PFAS exposure may affect COVID vaccine, NY bans PFAS in food packaging
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Wisconsin releases action plan to reduce PFAS chemical use
Nearly 20 state agencies, along with the University of Wisconsin, worked on the action plan released Wednesday.
PFAS chemicals are ubiquitous. A Pitt scientist is working to protect you from thousands of types at once.
Two of the ‘forever chemicals’ have been studied widely and show a wide range of harmful effects. A Pitt researcher is helping to tackle the problem: What do we do about the other 4,000+?
Michigan politicians ran on water problems. Activists want money for fixes.
Water advocates say they plan to push state and federal lawmakers for more funding to address PFAS, lead line replacement, and other water issues. But the COVID-19 crisis could make budget dollars scarce.
PFAS News Roundup: Michigan health study, Wisconsin deer and fish, possible impact on COVID-19 vaccine
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Study to examine long-term health impacts of PFAS in West Michigan
The science of PFAS and health is still emerging. That’s why the PFAS Exposure and Health Study is launching a five-year effort to examine potential health impacts more closely.
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