MICHIGAN EDITION
PFAS RESOURCE GUIDE FOR IMPACTED COMMUNITIES
INTRODUCTION
So, you just found out that there is PFAS contamination in your community.
It’s overwhelming. You probably have a ton of questions and don’t really know where to start, or what information to trust. We want you to know that you are not alone. There are communities across Michigan and across the world that are learning about PFAS in their own hometowns, and it is a lot to take in. Just know, there is a community of people who have gone through this already, and those that are going through it with you - and that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
This is a toolkit created for impacted community members about the ins-and-outs of PFAS contamination. PFAS is an overwhelming topic, no matter where you are in the stage of learning about this issue. This guide will help you navigate the topics that you care about most. It is important to note that because the policies and scientific understanding of PFAS are constantly evolving, this guide should be used as a starting point to many of your questions. We will continue to update this document as new information arises.
Although there is a lot of PFAS information out in the world, it is scattered and often not accessible to impacted residents or sensitive to their needs. Often after public meetings occur, we receive feedback that many of the questions from community members have gone unanswered, and that they feel overwhelmed after they learn about the issue at hand.
This guide is meant to compile the best information out there into a one-stop-shop. The guide will:
Be a resource to learn about PFAS contamination and the impacts
Answer commonly asked questions
Provide additional resources
Give tools for organizing and action
WHAT ARE PFAS?
PFAS are a group of toxic and invisible man-made chemicals — short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl chemical substances — that are used commonly in everyday consumer products, manufacturing and industry, and in firefighting foams.
You will also hear PFAS referred to as “forever chemicals” because they were designed to be indestructible, made by one of the strongest bonds known in organic chemistry (carbon-fluorine bonds). Because of this, they accumulate easily, stick around in our environment, and are very persistent in our bodies.
Even the smallest amount of PFAS chemicals pose serious risks to us and our environment — so small that most commonly PFAS are measured in parts per trillion (1 PPT = a single drop of PFAS in an Olympic size swimming pool).
It is important to know that when we are talking about PFAS we are referring to a class of chemicals. This means that PFAS is the category of chemicals, and within that category are thousands of other specific fluorinated chemicals such as PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, GenX, etc.
When were they created and by who?
The first PFAS-related chemical, polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) was accidently created in 1938 by DuPont chemist, Dr. Roy J. Plunkett, and introduced under the product name of Teflon.
However, it wasn’t until the mid-1940s that PFAS were widely developed for commercial use by 3M. PFAS chemicals became much more popular and widely used in the 1950s after Teflon’s popularity grew and 3M launched Scotchgard.
Since the original PFAS chemical was developed, thousands of variations have been created and continue to be developed to this day.
Where are they found?
So where are PFAS found? EVERYWHERE!
PFAS are commonly found in the blood of people and animals all over the world. Because they are used in so many different kinds of products and manufacturing and have a strong ability to move through water systems, they are found even in the most remote areas of the world.
That can sound scary — but know that even though they are currently found just about everywhere, we can still do something about it!
Uses
PFAS chemicals are found in just about everything with the general purpose of resisting heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. That is why they are found in makeup, food packaging, non-stick products such as cookware, waterproof/resistant clothing, carpeting, firefighting foam, and so much more. PFAS have even been used in the military since World War II for parts of weaponry, like in the first atomic bomb, and in parts used on various spacecrafts.
Locations
Studies show that PFAS can be found in the air, land, groundwater, surface water, humans, plants, and wildlife.
Because of the usage, the manufacturing, and disposal of products, toxic PFAS chemicals are found in historic/legacy dumpsites and current landfills, on farms and in agricultural areas from fertilizers, and some drinking water. They are found in industrial areas where companies use PFAS in production, such as metal plating companies, tanneries, and paper mills. They are also found at many airports and on military bases, mainly from the usage of firefighting foams during emergencies and from training exercises.
Cities, countries, etc.
Because there are very few places looking for PFAS contamination, it is tough to say where PFAS are and are not. As of July 2021, in Michigan there are over 170 active PFAS contamination sites scattered throughout the state — with 10 watersheds under investigation — and the number of sites is expected to grow into the thousands. The State of Michigan has estimated that there are more than 11,000 potential PFAS sites in Michigan. But PFAS are not limited to Michigan. They are not limited to people in rural settings or just in cities. They can be found everywhere in varying quantities all over the world, even on Mt. Everest and polar bears in the Arctic.
Helpful Resources:
Great Lakes PFAS Action Network | Michigan League of Conservation Voters | Ecology Center | National Wildlife Federation
Why are PFAS a problem?
“Approximately 98 percent of Americans have PFAS in their bodies, and the chemicals remain in the body for years.”- PFAS Exchange
These invisible chemicals are a problem for humans of any age and for all living creatures because they collect in our bodies over time and can take years to leave. Because we are constantly exposed to different types of PFAS, they continuously add up in our bodies and in our bloodstreams. This is a real concern because PFAS can negatively affect our health.
PFAS have been linked to elevated cholesterol, thyroid disease, immuno-suppression, damage to the liver and kidneys, various fertility issues, different types of cancers (testicular and kidney cancers) and even the reduced effectiveness of vaccines.
Helpful Resources:
West Michigan Environmental Action Council | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry | Michigan PFAS Action Response Team
How am I exposed?
There are a variety of ways that people can be exposed to these chemicals and at different levels of exposure. Health experts are most concerned about ingesting PFAS (meaning eating or drinking something that contains PFAS, like drinking water). This is the most common route of exposure for all Americans. Although much of the public concern is around ingestion, it is important to know that PFAS can also be inhaled and absorbed through the skin.
Helpful Resources:
Environmental Protection Agency | Michigan PFAS Action Response Team
When did we learn PFAS were an issue?
That is a big question, and it depends on who we are talking about when we say “we.”
Documents show that developers of PFAS learned about the chemical collecting in the blood of animals and humans as far back as 1950. As far back as the 1970s, studies conducted by the Department of Defense showed that the firefighting foam used on military bases and ships known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) that contain fluorinated chemicals now known as PFAS were toxic. Despite knowing this decades ago, we are just starting to learn about new contamination sites and the impacts PFAS has on our health and environment.
In Michigan specifically, the first PFAS contaminated site at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda was discovered in 2010. However, a report about the site — and the likely existence of widespread contamination throughout the state — was buried by the MDEQ under the Snyder Administration until a governmental whistleblower and community activists forced the state to take broad action with the formation of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team in 2017.
Helpful Resources:
MLive | Sierra Club | Clean Water Action | Natural Resource Defense Council
Why didn’t we know sooner?
The simple truth is that the system is broken. The companies that created and studied the effects of these toxic chemicals decades ago decided to cover up the studies that showed concerns to public health and our environment. Once it was known, our federal government and our state failed to act in a way that would address the toxic crisis.
Our political and regulatory systems both locally and nationally often rely on the good-faith of businesses and manufacturers. When products are not made as a food, beverage, or drug, there are not strict standards or processes before products and chemicals are brought to the market. Also, the lack of funding for our regulatory agencies and lack of good laws to protect our environment and public health continue to keep our communities in the dark and at risk.
When did we start to do something about them?
The first true community action started in 1998 when a farmer from West Virginia filed a federal lawsuit against DuPont, after noticing his family and farm animals were getting sick from the chemicals DuPoint was dumping nearby. This was a turning point in our communities and government agencies learning about how serious toxic PFAS are.
In the early 2000s, PFAS chemicals were officially considered contaminants of emerging concern, and the EPA worked with industries to start phasing out the legacy long-chain PFAS chemicals, such as PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, etc.
In Michigan, one of the first contaminated sites to be uncovered was the former Wurtsmith Airforce base in Oscoda. Unfortunately, the MDEQ and the Synder administration buried a critical report on this contamination in 2012. After the brave actions of a governmental whistleblower and impacted community members, the state finally began to take action and created the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team in 2017. Since then, many proposed pieces of legislation have been brought forward in Michigan and at the national level, and a few have passed to regulate our exposure to these chemicals. In 2020, Michigan adopted drinking water standards for seven different PFAS chemicals.
HISTORY
History of PFAS
The first of the PFAS chemicals were created by mistake in April of 1938 by a young DuPont chemist, Dr. Roy J. Plunkett. He was experimenting with coolant gases and after leaving a batch of gases out overnight and came in to find what is known as polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). This new chemical product had unusual properties by being heat and acid resistant, while keeping things from sticking to the surfaces that it was on.
Not long after PTFE was discovered, World War II began. The war became the focus for a lot of US industry and technology, and in the early 1940s, another chemist, John H. Simons was brought in to research how to contain unstable gases and metals used for weapons in the war. This process discovery was the beginning of a boom in inventions and technology.
After the war ended, Simons took his process to 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company), which paved the way for the first affordable and commercial production of PFAS products. In 1945, DuPont officially trademarked Teflon, a non-stick cookware, and by the early 1950s, 3M launched a few products like Scotchgard that contained PFAS.
Another common PFAS chemical, Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), was developed by the US Navy for life-saving firefighting foams in the 1960s. This specific foam was made to fight extremely high temperatures and dangerous fuel fires. In 1967 there was a tragedy on the USS Forrestal naval aircraft carrier which destroyed the ship and killed 134 people. After that, manufacturing increased and the Navy patented the technology and required its vessels to carry AFFF. Those requirements remain in place to this day.
In the early 2000s, PFAS chemicals were officially considered contaminants of emerging concern, and the EPA worked with industries to start phasing out some PFAS chemicals such as PFOA and PFOS. Others like PFHxS have been phased out by companies like 3M, but still may be produced by other industries. Since the original PFAS chemicals were developed, thousands of variations have been created and continue to be developed to this day.
Because this class of chemicals is indestructible, it also remains in the environment forever. Manufacturers eventually discovered that these chemicals are linked to several health concerns but did not disclose this. 3M was aware of the toxic chemicals collecting in the blood of animals and humans as far back as 1950. In the early 1960s, a DuPont toxicologist Dorothy Hood raised concerns over health impacts on animals from PFAS.
Throughout the 1960s private studies continued showing health impacts on humans and animals. In 1966, the FDA rejected PFAS chemicals as a food additive because of potential harm to the liver. In late 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established, but it wasn't until 1998 that 3M provided the EPA with evidence showing that these chemicals build up in our blood.
History of community action nationally
In places where 3M and DuPont factories have been polluting communities for decades, like those in Minnesota, West Virginia, and Michigan, there has been community action. One of those communities set the stage for PFAS accountability and has impacted what we know about these toxic chemicals.
In 1998 Parkersburg, West Virginia became the place of the first lawsuit. A local farmer, Wilbur Tennant, discovered that his neighbors were sick and dying and that his cows were dying at alarming rates. This was eventually tied to discharge of Teflon from the local DuPont factory into the Ohio River, polluting the drinking water of roughly 80,000 people. Wilbur Tennant sued DuPont and his attorney Rob Bilott uncovered internal company documents of PFOA exposure in plant workers and groundwater.
After the Tennent case was settled in 2001, Bilott filed a class-action lawsuit against DuPont on behalf of 50,000 people in the Ohio River area. This started the largest study on PFAS and health in 2005, known as the C8 study.
In 2005 an EPA advisory panel concluded that PFOA is a “likely” human carcinogen and the following year, an EPA program was created to encourage all major manufacturers to stop making the most concerning PFAS chemicals. In 2009, the EPA issued a non-enforceable “lifetime drinking water health advisory,” recommending a maximum of 200 parts per trillion for PFOS and 400 ppt for PFOA.
History of community action in Michigan
Residents of Oscoda, Michigan found concerning foam floating on their beaches and waterways, and eventually discovered PFAS had contaminated their groundwater. Stories of PFAS contamination had been covered as early as 2003, but little action was taken to address the issue. The main PFAS chemicals found were from the Wurtsmith Air Force Base following the heavy use of AFFF firefighting foam. In 2017, a year after residents were given drinking water advisories due to PFAS levels in their local wells, residents formed the group Need Our Water (NOW) to force a cleanup that is still being negotiated with the Department of Defense to this day.
Around the same time in 2017, PFAS contamination was found in the groundwater in Belmont, Michigan on the opposite side of the state. It came from a little-known dump site used by Wolverine World Wide for dumping tannery waste throughout the 1970s. This resulted in a 25 square mile area of contamination and a public outcry in concern over public and environmental health. Community members have and continue to organize to push Wolverine and the State of Michigan to implement aggressive cleanup plans.
In Michigan specifically, PFAS became a public-facing issue in 2018 thanks to local community groups' continued advocacy and have since impacted both state-wide and federal PFAS action plans and policies.
EXPOSURE (BODILY & ENVIRONMENTAL)
Health impacts
The health impacts of PFAS are still being studied and will be for years to come. Some of the leading health information has come from the 2005 C8 Study in West Virginia, National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and ongoing studies by various universities.
Studies show that some of the potential and common health impacts associated with PFAS exposure are liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, reduced vaccination and immunity effectiveness, hormone suppression, testicular and kidney cancer.
The initial studies that Dupont and 3M did on the effects of PFAS found that in both humans and animals exposure to PFAS caused immune issues, developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy and infants including low birth weight, altered puberty, and skeletal variations.
If you are concerned about exposure to PFAS in your drinking water, please contact the Michigan Department of Human and Health Services (MDHHS) Toxicology Hotline at 800-648-6942 or the CDC/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/ or 800-232-4636.
PFAS Exchange Medical screening guidance for community members
PFAS Exchange Medical screening guidance for clinicians
Children / Pregnancy
People who might be pregnant (or have been pregnant) should be cautious of PFAS exposure. During pregnancy, these toxic chemicals can disrupt the metabolism and immunity of a mother, which can cause immediate and lasting effects on mother and child. Women can have higher risks of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, and babies are more likely to have abnormal growth before birth which leads to low birth weight and can later face increased risk of childhood obesity and infections. There are still many studies that need to be done, so it’s recommended that anyone who is pregnant stays in open communication with their doctor to monitor health.
Studies are showing that PFAS can weaken the immune system and impact the efficacy of vaccines. It has also been found that mothers that are breastfeeding can give PFAS to their baby through breastmilk. Even still, at this time the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) still recommends that mothers continue to breastfeed for the other health benefits.
Prevention
If you are concerned that you may have been exposed, or your water has been tested with levels of PFAS, the best thing you can do is eliminate your biggest exposure to PFAS. This means making sure that you are not drinking, cooking with, preparing food with, or brushing your teeth with contaminated water. Plants and animals also can accumulate PFAS and pass it on through the food chain. In areas where there are PFAS detections in the land or water, avoid eating produce that has been watered with potentially contaminated water, and fish, deer, or other game that live in or near an investigation site.
Then, you can learn about other products that contain PFAS contamination and work to reduce your cumulative exposure of those products. Although PFAS does not absorb through your skin quickly, it can be absorbed and inhaled through water vapors. This is a concern when it comes to bathing, showering, and constantly touching things like waterproof clothing, shoes, and carpeting likely to have PFAS as a water-repellent.
To learn more about drinking water filtration and to search for a NSF certified filter to remove PFOS/PFOA, visit nsf.org.
Remediation
There are many ongoing studies looking for the best and most effective ways to abate, remediate, restore, and eliminate PFAS, and each site and area of contamination requires a customized approach. But first, what is the difference between remediation, abatement, and elimination?
Abatement is about containment and capturing the existing pollution. Remediation is about stopping or reducing further pollution. Restoration is about getting things back to the way they were or should be. Elimination is the long-term solution for ensuring that pollution doesn’t come back.
Abatement involves removing the problem from its area of contamination or encapsulating it in such a way that it no longer causes harm to others. This can be done in our water bodies through dredging, in excavated land and soil, or removing the contaminated soils. In our drinking water the best route is through various types of filtrations, as well as ensuring that landfills are properly lined, capped, and secured to reduce the possibility of PFAS leaching into our groundwater or land.
Remediation is the process of stopping or reducing pollution that is threatening the health of people or wildlife. In short, remediation is supposed to address the underlying issue to stop more contamination from occurring and often includes a plan for abatement. Remediation for PFAS contamination includes plans to contain and properly dispose of PFAS chemicals both in manufacturing processes and in existing products such as AAAF firefighting foam collection. It also means installing systems to ensure that contamination does not spread outside of its current area, such as interceptor wells that are designed to intercept PFAS in groundwater before it travels.
Elimination is often overlooked as a step, but in the case of PFAS, is an extremely important one. Because PFAS does not naturally break down in our environment, simply abating or encapsulating is not a long-term solution and will only risk further contamination. Elimination is about finding a way to eliminate PFAS from our current manufacturing so that we are not putting more into our environment. Currently, there is not a good way to break down existing PFAS in our environment on a large scale. While some suggest incineration, that is not a good recommendation at this time because there is a known risk of incomplete combustion forming new PFAS chemicals.
TESTING FOR PFAS
Environmental Testing
Fish
The State of Michigan has been testing fish for the PFAS chemical PFOS, in addition to other PFAS chemicals, as a part of the Eat Safe Fish program. You can view results for these tests and any alerts on the Michigan Department of Human and Health Services (MDHHS) website. The levels that are acceptable are based on several factors including your fish consumption each month. Some areas, like the Huron River, have ‘Do Not Eat’ fish advisories.
MPART Consumption guidelines for PFOS in fish
If you are concerned about fish in your area and do not see test results from the Eat Safe Fish guide, contact Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) to see if you qualify to have testing done at no cost to you. If testing is not available through the state, you can contact a certified laboratory and pay to have sampling done. The process and cost can vary, but the testing usually requires several fish for sampling and charges $200-$500 per fish.
If you know that fish in your local water body have tested positive for PFOS, that does not mean the water is unsafe for you to touch or swim in. PFAS can be absorbed through the skin, but the biggest concern is through ingesting the contamination. However, if you see concentrations of bright white foam in the water, do not touch it and contact the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) to alert them to the presence of foam. This is highly concentrated PFAS and can be very dangerous.
PFAS foam:
Can be bright white
Is usually lightweight
Can be sticky
Tends to pile up like shaving cream
Can look similar to suds from dish soap
Can blow onto the beach
Naturally occurring foam:
Is off-white and/or brown
Often piles up in bays, eddies, or river barriers such as dams
May have an earthy or fishy smell
Land
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) monitors the sampling process and data of all active PFAS investigation sites. It is important to note that they often rely on the polluter to have the proper sampling done themselves while EGLE provides guidelines. PFAS sampling requires strict protective gear, equipment, clothing and personal care products to ensure that samples are not accidentally contaminated. This is an extremely important step because touching any products with PFAS when collecting samples could throw off results. For example, if someone collecting samples ate lunch at a fast-food restaurant prior to collecting the samples, they will likely have PFAS on their skin from the food wrappers.
Locations, quantity, and types of samples that are taken are site specific and are determined by several factors, including site elevation. This can happen in several stages and may require additional sampling based on previous results to ensure the full area of contamination is captured.
Non-Potable Waters
Non-potable water is not chemically treated to make it safe for drinking. Examples would be rivers, lakes, rainwater, etc.
The EPA, DOD, and the State of Michigan all have their own recommended methods for sampling water. Getting accurate readings on this type of water can be challenging. Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) has separate guides and requirements for how to properly sample groundwater, surface water, wastewater, foam found on or around waterways, and more.
There are no private residential options for accurately testing non-potable waters outside of an active PFAS investigation. You can report any areas of concern, such as potential PFAS foam, by contacting EGLE, DNR, or by reporting online through the EGLE MI Waters Spill/Incident/Pollution form.
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense has published its Quality Systems Manual (QSM) for Environmental Laboratories, which provides basic requirements for the testing process related to any Department of Defense sites, such as military bases. However, there are no enforceable federal standards for PFAS levels and the DOD has not agreed to meet Michigan cleanup and drinking water standards for PFAS to date.
Drinking Water Testing
If you are not part of an official investigation area and want to sample your own residential well or pay a technician to sample your well, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) provides information on laboratories located within the state and guidance on how to take a sample of your drinking water. There is no set pricing on testing.
If you are a part of an official investigation area, EGLE works with any identified polluter(s) (such as a business or individual) to ensure that the polluter, with EGLE supervising, tests drinking water and takes various land exposure samples. The plan and testing process can take months for an investigation area and it can take even longer for people to get their results. Once results are shared EGLE and the polluter can make a plan for remediation to ensure everyone has access to safe drinking water.
Since Michigan has approved stricter drinking water standards for seven PFAS chemicals, there are many new priority sites of investigation.
Public
Municipal or public water providers are now required to test their water quarterly for the state’s regulated PFAS chemicals. Results for quarterly testing can be found on MPART’s website and are public information. A failing grade at a water facility for four consecutive quarters counts as a water quality violation. If a supply is found to be out of compliance with one or more PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), the public water provider is required to notify the public within 30 days.
Do note, however, if a public water system is able to demonstrate PFAS levels consistently and reliably below the MCLs, monitoring may be shifted to only once a year.
Michigan had previously relied upon the EPA guidance of 70 parts per trillion for two compounds, PFOA and PFOS, to regulate PFAS in drinking water. Depending upon the PFAS chemical, Michigan’s new limits range from 6 to 400,000 ppt. This only covers 7 common PFAS chemicals.
Note: One part per trillion is the equivalent of one grain of sand in an Olympic-size swimming pool. For chemicals like PFAS that bioaccumulate in fish and human blood even this seemingly small size is very significant and can harm the endocrine system and other bodily systems.
Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA) 6 ppt
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) 8 ppt
Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) 16 ppt
Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid (PFHxS) 51 ppt
Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Dimer Acid (HFPO-DA) (a GenX compound) 370 ppt
Perfluorobutane Sulfonic Acid (PFBS) 420 ppt
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) 400,000 ppt
Well
If you get your water from a household well the same standards apply to both municipal drinking and groundwater drinking water sources. The groundwater standards apply to the seven PFAS that Michigan currently regulates.
Michigan has tested private drinking water wells in areas of the state with known PFAS contamination, and many Michiganders with tainted wells have had to switch to municipal water or obtained filters for their home supply.
Michigan has approved new, lower groundwater cleanup standards for all seven regulated PFAS. This will require cleanup at sites over 8 ppt of PFOA or 16 ppt of PFOS.
Health and Blood Testing
PFAS chemicals have been found in the environment and in the blood of humans and animals worldwide. Most people in the United States have one or more specific PFAS in their blood, especially PFOS and PFOA.
Community Testing
Blood tests for PFAS are most useful when they are part of a scientific investigation or a health study. A scientific investigation can show the range of blood PFAS levels in community members and may provide information on how the levels vary among different populations. The data from these studies can also help community members who were not tested to estimate their likely blood PFAS level.
There are several different community biomonitoring studies underway or planned in Michigan. Visit michigan.gov for more information and to see if your community might be eligible.
Individual Testing
Blood testing for PFAS is not a routine test offered by doctors or health departments. If you would like to have your blood or your child’s blood tested, talk to your health care provider. They likely will need education on how to test for PFAS. You can provide them with the resources below. These tests are typically not covered by insurance.
PFAS Exchange Medical screening guidance for community members
Interpreting Blood Test Results
There is still much that is unknown about how different types and amounts of PFAS can impact our health. Interpretation of testing results for your blood can be difficult because test results will tell you how much of each PFAS is in your blood, but blood tests do not tell you if you have a health problem or information on treatments for PFAS exposure.
Scientists are finding that even though PFAS does not break down, they can leave your bloodstream after several years. The higher the number, the more PFAS you have in your bloodstream and in your body, and the higher risk to your health. The EPA has a current health advisory level for PFOS and PFOA combined at 70 ppt (parts per trillion) in drinking water, anything higher than that is considered dangerous.
For more help reading and understanding your blood test results, contact your doctor, Michigan Department of Human and Health Services (MDHHS), or the study center that provided your testing. You can also visit the online PFAS Exchange guide at www.pfas-exchange.org.
PRODUCTS
With new public awareness of PFAS chemicals and some state and international regulations, many companies are starting to phase out the use of PFAS in their products and are becoming more conscious of the packaging and manufacturing processes. Because there are thousands of different PFAS compounds that can be found in everyday products it is difficult to know all of the places that PFAS can be found. Some companies will advertise eliminating one of the many PFAS chemicals from their products but substitute it for another. This can be overwhelming when trying to make the right consumer choices. Be most careful using products you are ingesting or are used to prepare food.
Food: PFAS can build up in crops, fish, and livestock
Nonstick cookware (Teflon, etc.)
Food packaging: fast food wrappers/containers, pizza boxes, microwavable popcorn bags
Personal care: makeup, dental floss, nail polish, period panties, shaving cream - often personal care products contain PFAS because of the packaging the product comes in.
Household products: waxes, cleaning products, water/stain repellents (Scotchgard, etc.)
Water/stain resistant fabrics: carpet, outwear (Gore-tex), ski wax
Industry: AFFF Firefighting foam, metal plating, paper mills, leather tanneries
Electronics/technology: cell phones, semiconductors
Transportation: commercial aircraft and vehicles parts
Health and safety: surgical gowns
and more…
For more information about PFAS in products and relevant studies visit: |
Taking Action
How to take action by yourself
The best way to take action as an individual is to learn what you can about PFAS and to attend public hearings and events. Public hearings and events are great ways to not only learn about how your community is impacted and what is being done about it, but they are also great ways to voice your concerns, ask questions, and meet people that are also going through this too.
How to take action with your community
Meeting your neighbors
Part of taking action with your community is meeting your community. Using social media to meet people near you and find events is great, but if you are in an affected area with PFAS, the best way to connect is to knock on your neighbor’s door and introduce yourself. See if they would like to talk more about your shared experience over a cup of coffee or lunch. Building these relationships and connections with people is more valuable than most people realize.
Start a community group
No one knows everything, but together we know a lot.
Community groups are a great way to invite folks to join in the conversation and to create a base of power for action — whether you start a community group on social media or in person, knock on doors, put up fliers, or make calls to let folks know about it.
This can seem like a scary and overwhelming thing to do, but know that when you are acting as a team with your community, your chances for success increase because you will be sharing the load and have each other as support. There are a few steps that are important to cover from the beginning.
Find your purpose, intention, and your end goal as a group
Having an honest and open conversation with your group about what you all want to get out of organizing together is a step that should not be overlooked. Often people make assumptions about why other people are taking action or what they want to get out of getting involved. It is best to sit down and figure it out together early on.
Verbalize and write down your purpose. Why are you here together, and acting?
Now, what is your intention going forward? Do you want to disrupt? Educate? Provide comfort? Who do you want to include as a voice?
What is your end goal? Do you want to hold polluters accountable? Do you want to change the policies that are in place? Do you want to provide tools and resources to your neighbors?
Find who is missing at the table
Now that you have a group started, stop and ask yourself who is missing at the table. Whether you want to make sure that different economic classes in your community are represented, or different cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, age groups, etc., make an effort to get out of your comfort zone and really think about those that are impacted the most, and those who are usually marginalized or whose voices are often ignored. Write it down and set a goal for outreach with your group to build real connections with those that you would like to invite. The earlier you do this step, the more meaningful it is.
Find allies and partners
You are not alone. There are groups out there doing just what you are doing or have a mission that aligns with supporting what you are doing. These relationships are key to learning from each other and making a stronger impact. When it comes to PFAS, the best groups to reach out to are in communities that have gone through something similar, building relationships with impacted individuals, businesses, and key governmental groups in your area (such as Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) and your elected officials), and environmental or social justice organizations.
Mental Health / Self Care
Having PFAS in your community is a lot to handle, mentally, emotionally, and even sometimes physically. Whether you are organizing your neighbors or simply live in an area that has learned that you have toxic chemicals in your community, know that you are not alone, and your feelings are valid. Take the time and space that you need to tend to yourself and your family.
Check in on yourself as often as you feel comfortable and take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself how your body is physically feeling. Are your eyes strained? Are you clenching your jaw? Do you have stomach pains or headaches? What about your mind? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Stressed? Is your mind racing with a million questions or thoughts that you cannot stop?
You know you better than anyone! If something feels off, or if you said yes to any of these, then it’s time for some self-care! Self-care comes in many forms, from taking care of your body, and mind, to disconnecting from distractions and connecting with the world around you. Take a moment to breathe, go for a walk, drink a glass of safe water, meditate, or do chores if that helps to relax your mind!
But more than anything, if you need someone to talk to, reach out to family, friends, neighbors, or one of the groups in the resource section for support — or contact your doctor to get a wellness plan in place.
RESOURCES
FAQs
Does boiling water make it better?
No, PFAS chemicals cannot be removed through boiling water. They must be removed through filtration processes that are specifically certified to remove various PFAS chemicals. Boiling water works to remove different bacteria from water, but PFAS is not a bacteria, it is a chemical.
Can I water my tomatoes?
PFAS chemicals cling to just about anything that they touch. If you have a contaminated water source, it is recommended that you do not water your garden items that will be ingested with contaminated water prior to proper filtration.
Is it dangerous for pets?
We recommend limiting exposure to pets the same way that you would for yourself. PFAS can be ingested by all living creatures, however, studies are still being done on how they affect humans and animals. During the testing of these chemicals by Dupont in the early days, animals that were exposed to and ingested the chemicals had major health issues including cancer, abnormal growth, etc.
If you farm, hunt, or fish, any PFAS that has been ingested by that creature can be passed onto the person that consumes that animal. At this time, there is no reliable way to know how much PFAS are transferred from the animal to the product, and currently there are no federal food safety standards for PFAS levels in food.
Can it go in my eyeballs?
PFAS can be absorbed through any part of the body and can get into your body through your eyes. However, this is not the primary way that people ingest PFAS.
Can I brush my teeth?
We recommend using water that has been filtered from PFAS to brush your teeth to reduce exposure, as there is a high likelihood of ingestion. Some dental flosses have high levels of PFAS and should be avoided.
Are baths ok?
PFAS can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled from water vapors. The governmental agencies put showers, baths, and washing on a low level of concern due to the time it takes for this, but we recommend erring on the side of caution — especially for children that sometimes drink or ingest water in baths and showers.
Is bottled water safer? Is that tested for PFAS?
Bottled water that has been reverse osmosis filtered is safer than water that has been tested above the PFAS contamination guidelines. There are a lot of questions around this issue. Bottled water companies get their water from various sources. Some bottle municipal water, some bottle well water, spring water or other. Bottled water companies in Michigan are required to adhere to the same standards and guidelines for residential drinking water. However, this is new and there has not been a lot of transparency on this topic. Bottled water companies also have varying levels of other contaminants, including microplastics. Due to that and other environmental concerns around bottled water — if you are able, we recommend using home filters or the large containers from a water delivery company.
If I let my tap run for 15 minutes will that make it better?
PFAS can gather and concentrate at the tap source, however, running the water does not eliminate the chemical, it only flushes out clusters that may be present. For this reason, it is recommended to keep your water on for a period before sampling when testing your water.
How do I know if this has impacted me physically?
The science is still out on this question. There are quite a few different ways that your health can be impacted by PFAS (see health section), most of which are long-term issues like cancer, diabetes, reproductive issues, etc. If you are concerned that you may be impacted by PFAS it is possible to have your blood tested for PFAS, you can learn more by talking to your doctor, though many doctors are still learning about PFAS themselves. Encourage your doctor to read the resources you can provide them.
Is understanding PFAS new to scientists?
For many scientists, PFAS and its impacts on humans and the environment are newer. You will hear the phrase “emerging chemical(s)” often. But the science on PFAS has been around since the mid-1940s when PFAS were created. The largest health study in human history, in breadth and scope, began in 2005 in the mid-Ohio valley communities, which had been affected by the releases of PFOA emitted since the 1950s from the Chemours Washington Works plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
What documentaries/films should I watch?
No Defense: The U.S. Military’s War on Water — nodefensedoc.com
The Devil we Know — thedevilweknow.com
Gen X: A Chemical Cocktail — genxthefilm.org/home
Dark Waters — focusfeatures.com/dark-waters
I’m scared, confused, and upset. Who can I talk to?
First, you should know that you are not alone. Depending on the type of support you are looking for, take a look at the resource section for really helpful contacts and places to reach out to. If you are looking for community support, support from people that are going through similar things across the state, the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network is the best resource. If you are looking for information from the State entities working on PFAS, Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) is the primary information source for all PFAS within the State of Michigan.
Information received feels vague and hasn’t centered most immediate community concerns. “Am I supposed to know what this is?”
This is a very common reaction to the information that has gone out to communities. Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) is working to get information to communities and are currently learning from and taking feedback on what information people are looking for. Organizations like Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN), Need our Water, Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (MLCV EF), the Ecology Center, the National Wildlife Federation, Clean Water Action, Sierra Club, and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), are all great resources for more information. When you need more information from the state please reach out to your community’s Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART)/Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) site lead.
How are “acceptable” levels of PFAS impacting my life?
PFAS bioaccumulates in your body and if you are constantly ingesting “acceptable” levels, it will never be out of your system. The amount of PFAS that it takes to be harmful is so small that many science and advocacy groups believe that no amount of PFAS is safe or acceptable. Unfortunately, investment in research and science around this harmful chemical class means that we are still learning about these impacts.
What is PPT? Parts per trillion of what? What does that measurement really mean to me?
One part per trillion is the equivalent of one grain of sand in an Olympic-size swimming pool. That means that such a tiny amount of the chemical spreads and can be very harmful to us and the environment.
If my well received acceptable test results, do I still need to be concerned?
If your well was sampled and came back with “acceptable” to no PFAS levels, alert Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) and request that your water be sampled over time and compared to your neighbor’s water. Low to no PFAS now does not mean that it will stay that way if there is contamination in your area, especially if the source of PFAS has not yet been remediated. It is recommended with even low levels of PFAS that you get a good filtration system in place to reduce your exposure as much as possible.
If my well received a bad test result what do I do next?
If your well received a bad sample, Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) will be in contact with you to ensure that you are getting set up with a system for clean drinking water. In the meantime, stop drinking the water that is contaminated and drink properly filtered or bottled water in the interim, and learn what you can about PFAS through resources such as this guide.
Can I know what my neighborhood wide results show?
Typically, all of the results must first be sent to individual households, and do not get publicly shared, however, you may be able to request information about your neighborhood directly from the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) site leader for your area.
Will this impact the value of my home?
Depending on the amount of PFAS found, it will likely affect the value of your home, but there is no way to know for sure. Once remediation efforts are completed in your area and access to safe water is completed it is unlikely that your home value will be impacted.
How often are they testing the municipal water?
PFAS testing is now a normal part of municipal water testing requirements. Municipal or public water systems must test for PFAS, and those results are available to the public.
Could my results be inaccurate?
There are a lot of steps that go into ensuring an accurate PFAS test because of the high opportunity for PFAS on clothes, cosmetics, paper, etc. to contaminate a sample. If you are having testing done on your own, it is important that your testing is done by a certified and state-recommended testing facility to ensure the proper procedures are followed and that your test can be validated. Just remember that PFAS levels can change over time, so if you are concerned about PFAS where you live you may want to consider having testing done periodically.
Should I be testing my well privately? Who would I contact for that? Who pays for it?
Blood testing can only be done by a few sources, is expensive, and limited. It is possible, though. If you would like to be proactive, learn about different types of everyday items that you use that could contain PFAS to limit your exposure as much as possible.
Should we be getting our blood tested? What can I do to be proactive about my health right now related to PFAS?
Blood testing can only be done by a few sources, is expensive, and limited. It is possible, though. If you would like to be proactive, learn about different types of items that you use every day that could contain PFAS to limit your exposure as much as possible.
What kind of water filtration systems for PFAS exist?
There are a few variations of filtration systems that you can have installed in your home to filter out PFAS, like reverse osmosis and granular activated carbon filters. To learn more about drinking water filtration and to search for a NSF certified filter to remove PFOS/PFOA, visit nsf.org.