For Local PFAS information:
https://www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse/investigations/sites-aoi/iosco-county/oscoda-area
https://gis-egle.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/17b26cf283624bf49705741e81fde0c4/explore
“Forever Chemicals” --- in a BAD way: They do not breakdown – ever – and they cause harm to humans, including some cancers, pregnancy problems, liver and immune system problems, etc. There is a whole family of these chemicals, collectively known as PFAS/PFOS. The ground-zero for recognizing these harmful chemicals is the former Wurstmith Air Force Base, which used the chemicals for fire-fighting, which PFOS/PFAS are very good at. These chemicals now occur in a lot of stuff we all use: cleaning products, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics, etc.
From the initial awareness of PFAS/PFOS here in 2017, by Spring 2023 the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) knew about 233 sites with contamination of ground water / surface water / drinking water and they were adding more sites weekly.
There is an Oscoda group, Need Our Water (NOW), which has been working with the DOD, USAF, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) on clan-up efforts. Other groups involved include Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN), the Ecology Center (a non-profit environmental advocacy group from Ann Arbor, formed in 1970), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), etc.
These same groups have been considering the foam that has been observed along Lake Huron since about 2017. Recent testing has revealed that PFAS in foam can be up to 5000 times higher than in surface water. (Iosco County News-Herald and Oscoda Press April 10, 2024).
April 10, 2024, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced limits on PFAS in drinking water. Fixing the problem will be hugely expensive. (And hugely beneficial to humans.) Cover story Iosco County News Herald April 17, 2024 includes a photo of Oscoda resident and co-founder of NOW with EPA Office of Water Deputy Assistant Administrator in Washington. The headlines 4/17/24: “First-ever federal PFAS drinking water standards are praised”.
Sources: The Michigan Engineer (University of Michigan College of Engineering) Spring 2023, The Iosco County News-Herald – Oscoda Press April 10, 2023, National Geographic News April 12, 2024.
From the initial awareness of PFAS/PFOS here in 2017, by Spring 2023 the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) knew about 233 sites with contamination of ground water / surface water / drinking water and they were adding more sites weekly.
There is an Oscoda group, Need Our Water (NOW), which has been working with the DOD, USAF, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) on clan-up efforts. Other groups involved include Great Lakes PFAS Action Network (GLPAN), the Ecology Center (a non-profit environmental advocacy group from Ann Arbor, formed in 1970), National Wildlife Federation (NWF), etc.
These same groups have been considering the foam that has been observed along Lake Huron since about 2017. Recent testing has revealed that PFAS in foam can be up to 5000 times higher than in surface water. (Iosco County News-Herald and Oscoda Press April 10, 2024).
April 10, 2024, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced limits on PFAS in drinking water. Fixing the problem will be hugely expensive. (And hugely beneficial to humans.) Cover story Iosco County News Herald April 17, 2024 includes a photo of Oscoda resident and co-founder of NOW with EPA Office of Water Deputy Assistant Administrator in Washington. The headlines 4/17/24: “First-ever federal PFAS drinking water standards are praised”.
Sources: The Michigan Engineer (University of Michigan College of Engineering) Spring 2023, The Iosco County News-Herald – Oscoda Press April 10, 2023, National Geographic News April 12, 2024.