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. “Forever Chemicals” is what PFAS, PFOA and PFOS are all known as because of how long it takes them to break down in people’s bodies and the environment. These groups of industrial chemicals are used in many non-stick household products, food packages and waterproofed outdoor clothing. And 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? How are federal, state and local governments responding? What responsibility does industry have? And what are the financial, medical and social costs?
Great Lakes Now’s coverage has explored these issues and more. Find our work and our partners’ reporting on this page.
Watch NOW
Evers administration relaunches efforts to limit PFAS
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ administration is trying again to limit the levels of a group of chemicals known as PFAS in Wisconsin’s groundwater.
Michigan property owners settle PFAS case for $54 million
The deal involves approximately 1,700 properties north of Grand Rapids.
PFAS News Roundup: “Forever chemicals” concern on the rise, how to reduce exposure
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
PFAS News Roundup: Indiana research universities study PFAS, EPA designates “forever chemicals” as hazardous
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Drinking Water News Roundup: Steps to ensure safe drinking water, Indigenous business leaders raise awareness
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with drinking water in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
PFAS News Roundup: Eliminating “forever chemicals,” reporting obligations broadening
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Two Generations and $70 Million Later, Muskegon Lake Is Restored
Muskegon Lake will soon be removed from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.
How to destroy a ‘forever chemical’ – scientists are discovering ways to eliminate PFAS, but this growing global health problem isn’t going away soon
The latest breakthrough shows how one class of PFAS can be broken down into mostly harmless components using sodium hydroxide, or lye, an inexpensive compound used in soap. It isn’t an immediate solution to this vast problem, but it offers new insight.
COLLABORATIONS
Since 2019, Great Lakes Now has partnered with MLive Media Group to bring audiences news and information about PFAS and drinking water. The collaboration began with the “Forever Chemicals documentary and these MLive articles about the financial cost to local communities who need to deal with the contaminations. The project was supported by the Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.
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” documentary was produced by Rob Green and Sandra Svoboda.
Digital Designers: Shelby Jouppi, Mila Murray
Digital Video for “The Forever Chemicals” documentary: 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 and the Ravitch Fiscal Reporting program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.