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Contaminants of Emerging Concern

An aerial view of a large lake with swirls of green - a harmful algal bloom
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) refers to various chemicals and substances such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and metals like lithium and manganese that may be detected in Michigan's drinking water resources. These contaminants are often unregulated and therefore not commonly tested for, but they may represent impacts to both the environment and consumers of water, including both animals and people. CECs are often identified through exploratory monitoring and other research efforts, and may represent a risk to our drinking water supplies arising from sources such as emerging technologies, industrial processes, and consumer products. As our world advances, the potential for impact via additional CEC arise, making these ongoing assessment efforts a crucial component driving proactive measures and increasing public awareness. It is important for individuals to be informed about the potential sources of CECs- what they are, where they are, and what is being done about them. This page highlights the current CECs that the State of Michigan is investigating and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Contact us

Call the Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) at 800-292-4706.

Aerial photo of a forest and lakefront in summer
Aerial photo of a forest and lakefront in summer

Story map of contaminants of emerging concern

Discover what contaminants of emerging concern are, why they matter, and how EGLE is responding - all in this visual and interactive story map!

View the story map