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.
Watch NOW
‘Forever chemicals’ found in groundwater near military bases
Pentagon documents show at least 385 military installations nationwide are polluted with PFAS, mostly from firefighting foam used widely in training exercises, according to an environmental group that just released the records.
Minnesota issues plan to treat water marred by 3M chemicals
Minnesota pollution control and natural resources officials released a $700 million plan to improve the drinking water for 14 communities whose groundwater was contaminated due to chemical disposal by 3M.
Drinking Water Roundup: Senate passes $1 trillion infrastructure bill, Canada reaches $8 billion settlement with First Nations
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
PFAS News Roundup: Tech company develops PFAS-eliminating technology, PFAS Action Act heads to Senate, study finds PFAS in Arctic ice
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Drinking Water Roundup: Line 3 opposition persists during Minnesota drought, $15M in Michigan drinking water grants, lead pipes in Illinois and Ohio
Catch the latest drinking water updates with Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
PFAS News Roundup: EPA approved PFAS use for fracking, $20M for Ontario airport cleanup, PFAS Action Act set for House vote
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Dealing with the soup of chemicals that can get into your drinking water
Chemicals in water can mix. That’s where dealing with pollutants really falls short.
PFAS News Roundup: Biden talks PFAS in Wisconsin, watchdog asks Pentagon for future expenses, PFAS Action Act clears committee
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