© 2024 Interlochen
CLASSICAL IPR | 88.7 FM Interlochen | 94.7 FM Traverse City | 88.5 FM Mackinaw City IPR NEWS | 91.5 FM Traverse City | 90.1 FM Harbor Springs/Petoskey | 89.7 FM Manistee/Ludington
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Statewide study on PFAS released

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lifetime Health Advisory

The first statewide study of PFAS in Michigan’s public water supply came out today.

PFAS are toxic chemicals that can be found in things like firefighting foam, food packaging and other consumer products. They can cause cancer and other health problems.

Approximately 7.7 million of Michigan's 10 million residents had their drinking water tested for PFAS.

The study tested all community, school, child care provider and tribal water supplies in the state, however it did not include private water supplies.

“This study focused on testing public water supplies. The remaining 25 percent primarily gets their drinking water from private wells which were not part of this study,” says Ian Smith, the emerging contaminants and issues coordinator with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Credit U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lifetime Health Advisory

Results show that roughly 90 percent of the state’s public water supplies showed no detection for PFAS. 

Only the city of Parchment and Robinson Elementary School near Grand Haven had test results exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lifetime Health Advisory of 70 parts per trillion for PFAS in drinking water.

Smith says the state is taking action in both cases.

“Parchment’s drinking water system was taken off of the Parchment’s sources and was incorporated into the Kalamazoo municipal system,” Smith says. “Folks in Parchment now have access to Kalamazoo as a source for drinking water.”

Dan Wanschura is the Host and Executive Producer of Points North.