Congress pressed to confront PFAS pollution threatening Great Lakes and Midwest communities

By EHN Staff | Environmental Health Network | May 30, 2025

Read the full article by EHN (EHN Staff)

"Communities around the Great Lakes, already reeling from widespread PFAS contamination, are pushing lawmakers to restore stricter federal standards and boost cleanup efforts amid concerns over weakened environmental protections.

Brian Bienkowski reports for The New Lede.

In short:

• A virtual congressional briefing led by the Northeast-Midwest Institute featured scientists and advocates urging federal action to address PFAS contamination across the Great Lakes, highlighting military sites like Michigan’s Wurtsmith Air Force Base as major sources.
• PFAS chemicals, found in products from firefighting foam to nonstick cookware, are accumulating in Great Lakes water, fish, and communities, posing health risks including cancer and immune system damage; Michigan alone has 11,000 contaminated sites.
• A bipartisan PFAS Task Force in Congress and a proposed five-year reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative seek to counter the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent delays and potential rollbacks in PFAS drinking water standards."

Location:

• North AmericaUS

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• Affected community
• Health
• Regulations