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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.
Watch NOW
Showtime: Join Great Lakes Now at the Thunder Bay International Film Festival
“The Forever Chemicals” and “Wrecks Within Reach” were chosen for the Alpena event.
Wisconsin lawmakers poised to adopt restrictions on firefighting foam
Both the Senate and Assembly are scheduled to vote on the Republican-authored proposal Tuesday. The GOP controls both houses, making passage all but certain. The bill would go next to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who can sign it into law or veto it.
Chemical Hitchhikers: Great Lakes microplastics may increase risk of PFAS contaminants in food web
A University of Illinois analytical chemist found that the chemicals used in non-stick products can stick to microplastic particles in lake water.
Cleanup of Detroit “green goo” contaminated site expected to cost millions
According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, efforts to contain the leak at the Electro-Plating Services Inc. site in Madison Heights has cost at least $200,000 over 24 days.
PFAS News Roundup: Public input in Michigan, bans on firefighting foam, legislation won’t pass Senate
Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS – a group of man-made chemicals flagged as a major contaminant in sources of water across the country – in the Great Lakes region and on a national level in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
The U.S. House just voted to regulate PFAS. Here’s what you need to know
PBS NewsHour laid out what you need to know about PFAS, what the bill means, what the next step is and what existing resistance there is to this bill and why.
Superfund cleanup considered for Detroit ‘green goo’ site
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said an evaluation of the Electro-Plating Services Inc. site will be completed this spring.
EPA: Lead, uranium found after Detroit River aggregate spill
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said in a statement Thursday that the EPA’s testing of soil and water at the Detroit Bulk Storage detected “many heavy metals including uranium.”
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