PFAS Response

Taking Action to Protect the Public's Water

• Taking Action to Protect the Public's Water

  Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made chemicals that include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFAS have been used globally during the past century in manufacturing, firefighting and thousands of common household and other consumer products. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and in the human body – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time. In recent years, experts have become increasingly concerned by the potential effects of high concentrations of PFAS on human health.

  Although there is still more to learn about PFAS and human health, the State of Michigan takes this issue seriously and is one of the first states in the nation to establish a clean-up standard for PFAS in groundwater used for drinking water.

  The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) builds on previous work to research, identify, recommend, and implement PFAS response actions throughout the state. Agencies representing health, environment, natural resources, and other branches of state government have joined together to take action to protect Michigan’s drinking water, investigate sources and locations of PFAS contamination in the state, and maintain transparency as we learn more about this nationally emerging contaminant.