Michigan Expanding PFAS Testing Capacity

By McKoy Scribner | Great Lakes Echo | September 3, 2021

Read the full article by McKoy Scribner (Great Lakes Echo)

“The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is expanding its testing capacity for monitoring a family of so-called ‘forever chemicals’ called PFAS.

For several years, EGLE’s state laboratory in Lansing has been able to check only drinking water for PFAS contamination.

Researchers say exposure to high levels of PFAS may harm the human and animal immune systems, including possibly reducing antibody responses to vaccines and reducing resistance to infectious diseases.

‘Because COVID-19 is a new public health concern, there is still much we don’t know. More research is needed to understand how PFAS exposure may affect illness from COVID-19,’ the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says.

In addition, the agency says high PFAS exposure levels may be linked to increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, increased risk of high blood pressure in pregnant women, slightly lower infant birth weights and increased risk of testicular or kidney cancer.

With new equipment, testing in the lab can now expand to include surface water, groundwater, wastewater and soil.

EGLE communications officer Scott Dean says the new testing will make it easier for the state to monitor where PFAS are in Michigan.”…

This content provided by the PFAS Project.