From Ypsilanti to Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo to Traverse City, events will shine a spotlight on ‘forever chemicals’ during PFAS Awareness Week

As part of the first-ever PFAS Awareness Week (Sept. 21 to Sept. 25), the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) and and the Citizens Advisory Workgroup members are hosting a variety of events around the state and online to highlight the state’s leadership in addressing this class of chemical contaminants and urging the public to follow the recommendations in Governor Whitmer’s proclamation.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that were first used in the 1940s for industry and manufacturing, are linked to harmful human health effects, and have been found in Michigan’s water, soil, air, fish, wildlife, and people.

In her proclamation, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Michiganders are urged to take steps to reduce their exposure to PFAS through actions such as sampling their private well to see if it is affected by PFAS, checking the Eat Safe Fish guides, avoiding foam on surface water and reducing the use of consumer products that can contain PFAS.

Fifteen events – including three webinars – are being held around the state as part of PFAS Awareness Week. Many of these events are being hosted by non-profit organizations such as: Huron River Watershed Council, Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, Ecology Center, Muskegon County PFAS Taskforce, and several colleges and universities. Join one near you or participate online. 

PFAS Awareness Events

September 20

• PFAS awareness tabling at Ypsi Fall River Day (Ypsilanti)
  • Come engage with local elected officials, state and federal representatives, community leaders and subject matter experts on PFAS during Ypsi Fall River Day.
  • Location: Riverside Park

September 21

• PFAS tabling event at Calvin University (Grand Rapids)
  • As part of PFAS Awareness Week at Calvin, this event includes various tables and posters for students, faculty and members of the public to learn about PFAS and environmental activism, as well as various student PFAS projects that have been completed in recent years.
  • Location: Calvin University Hekman Library
• MSU Research speaker series (East Lansing)
  • The talks will cover the following topics: PFAS basics, PFAS in agriculture, on-farm research at a contaminated beef farm, PFAS in fish and wildlife, health impacts, and information from our PFAS Analytical Laboratory.
  • Location: Michigan State University Chemistry Building, Room Number 136
• Screening of documentary "No Defense: The U.S. Military's War on Water" with panel discussion
  • The film tells the story of harm caused by PFAS pollution in Oscoda from the town’s former Wurtsmith Air Force Base.
  • Location: The Lake Theatre
• Movie screening of Dark Waters and panel discussion (Grand Rapids)
  • As part of PFAS Awareness Week at Calvin, this event is designed to increase public understanding of "forever chemicals," their potential impacts on human health and the environment, and the importance of informed community engagement.
  • Location: Calvin University Bytwerk Video Theater
• MPART Webinar: PFAS and you, hosted by MPART
  • Learn how to sample your drinking water well, use the Eat Safe Fish guide, which products contain PFAS, and much more!
  • Location: Online only - Zoom meeting

September 23

• Community Conversation on PFAS – “Forever Chemicals” in Our Lives (Traverse City)
  • Learn the history and health impacts of PFAS from Dr. Richard Rediske, Emeritus Professor at Grand Valley State University.
  • Location: Northwest Michigan College Scholars Hall
• MSU Research speaker series (East Lansing)
  • The talks will cover the following topics: PFAS basics, PFAS in agriculture, on-farm research at a contaminated beef farm, PFAS in fish and wildlife, health impacts, and information from our PFAS Analytical Laboratory.
  • Location: Michigan State University Chemistry Building, Room Number 136
• Dark Waters movie night and discussion (Ypsilanti)
  • A panel discussion will follow the movie showing to discuss the challenges of addressing PFAS, progress to date, and ongoing action.
  • Location: Frederic H. Pease Auditorium, Eastern Michigan University

September 24

• PFAS; the Science, People, and, Issues (Allendale)
  • Join us for an informative event on PFAS, the “forever chemicals” impacting Michigan and communities across the country.
  • Location: Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Idema Pew Library Multipurpose Room
• Enspired Solution’s PFASigator® Open house (Lansing)
• Update and community conversation on PFAS (Rockford)
  • Location: Rockford High School Auditorium
• MPART Webinar: PFAS and fish - what to know about the Eat Safe Fish guide, hosted by MPART.
  • Understand the basics of how fish are caught, processed, and analyzed for contaminants and how to use Michigan’s Eat Safe Fish Guide.
  • Location: Online only - Zoom meeting

September 25

• Michigan Geological Survey & Western Michigan University PFAS Symposium (Kalamazoo)
  • There will be panel discussion with local experts, as well as presentations from WMU Faculty, student research posters, and resource tables.
  • Location: Dunbar Hall - Western Michigan University
• MPART Webinar: Michigan's response to PFAS, hosted by MPART.
  • Learn more about all the ways that Michigan is tackling PFAS everywhere, from public water supplies, wastewater, to fish, and private residential drinking water.
  • Location: Online only - Zoom meeting