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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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Rights of Nature: Gaining traction around the world while facing serious opposition almost everywhere
Rights of Nature, while still struggling to get a foothold in the U.S. and Great Lakes area, has been gaining popularity much quicker overseas.
Some Indiana beaches along Lake Michigan closed after chemical spill
Some beaches are closed along Lake Michigan in northwestern Indiana after authorities say a chemical spill into the Little Calumet River caused fish to die in the area.
Report: Great Lakes cleanups boost economic development
A new report says cleaning up some of the Great Lakes region’s most heavily polluted areas has led to billions of dollars’ worth of economic development and brought communities closer together.
Bat Bacteria: Unusual treatment offers hope to Great Lakes bats suffering from deadly fungal disease
Great Lakes bats have taken a big hit over the past decade, with some species reduced by as much as 90 percent. The cause? A wasting disease called white-nose syndrome.
Minnesota appeals court blocks water quality permit for PolyMet mine
The proposed mine, which would be Minnesota’s first copper-nickel mine, has had a permit stayed due to potential unaddressed environmental concerns.
Growing Gardens: Churches and mosques create native plant gardens to help with water quality, wildlife and community building
The National Wildlife Federation piloted a program in Toledo, Ohio, that provides funding and support to houses of worship interested in creating native plant gardens within their communities.
Ship Ahoy: Contracted by Enbridge, the Highland Eagle is drilling in the Straits of Mackinac after a stop in Detroit
The Canadian energy company is using a 236-foot-long deep-water drilling vessel to sample the lakebed and gather rock cores in preparation for the controversial tunnel project.
Ban on a Ban on Bans: Legislation introduced to overturn a previous ban on plastic bag bans
Michigan, after legislation banning the ban of plastic bags was introduced in 2016, is now looking at new legislation that will undo that.
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.
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.
Ann Arbor spends $1 million to deal with PFAS contamination
The city started to ask in 2017: “What can we do about it?”
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