Learn

• Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals.
• There are thousands of different types of PFAS.
• PFAS have been used globally during the past century because they repel oil, stains, grease and water.
• They are sometimes used in firefighting foams.
• They are currently used in consumer products like stain repellants, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and shoes, fast food wrappers, personal care products and many other consumer goods.
• Because of this global use, PFAS have made it into the food chain especially in fish and dairy products.
• PFAS take a long time to break down in the environment. This means you may still be exposed to historical sources of PFAS.
• They also take a long time to exit the human body. This means some PFAS might still be in your body from past exposures.

Almost everyone in the U.S. has been exposed to PFAS in some way. You could be exposed to PFAS by:

• Drinking water contaminated with PFAS.
• Eating food contaminated with PFAS, such as fish and game and some dairy products.
• Eating foods packaged in wrappers coated with PFAS.
• Accidentally swallowing foam while swimming. If a body of water has PFAS in it, its foam can also have PFAS in it.
• Using consumer products such as nonstick pans, if damaged or heated to high temperatures
• Using cleaning products, stain repellents, and personal care products that contain PFAS.
• Breathing in indoor dust containing PFAS from household products.

Research is on-going to understand how PFAS affects health. Reducing exposure to PFAS can help prevent potential health effects from PFAS exposure. Because children are still developing, they may be more sensitive to the harmful effects of chemicals such as PFAS.

Being exposed to PFAS does not mean you will develop health effects. However, PFAS exposure has been linked to several health effects, including:

• Thyroid disease.
• Liver damage.
• High cholesterol, especially total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
• Decreased immune system response to vaccines in children.
• Development of certain types of cancer, particularly kidney and testicular cancers.
• Reduced fertility.
• High blood pressure or preeclampsia during pregnancy.
• Small decreases in infant birth weight.

To learn about MDHHS PFAS exposure and health projects, visit Michigan.gov/DEHBio.

• Learn if your drinking water is impacted by PFAS and what to do if it is.
• Consider using certified PFAS-reducing water filters.
• Follow fish consumption guidelines in your area to help choose fish low in PFAS and other contaminants.
• Limit use of consumer products that may contain PFAS, such as stain or water-resistant products.
• Avoid contact with foam on waterbodies. MDHHS recommends everyone avoid foam on waterbodies and to rinse off after contact.

Visit the Do page to learn more!

PFAS are persistent chemicals, meaning they do not easily break down in the environment. PFAS also move easily around the environment in water and other materials. They have been found nearly everywhere. In Michigan, current data shows that airports, military bases, manufacturing facilities and landfills have some of the highest levels of PFAS.

• Airports and Military Bases. PFAS have been and continue to be used in firefighting foam. Drinking water contaminated with PFAS near airports and military bases is often associated with the use of firefighting foams.
• Manufacturing Facilities. PFAS used in manufacturing can be released into lakes and rivers during production or as wastewater. PFAS may be in industrial waste that can seep into the soil and drinking water sources.
• Unlined Landfills. PFAS are used in many different consumer products that eventually end up in landfills. PFAS in unlined landfills can seep from the soil into drinking water sources.

To learn about sites in your area, visit the PFAS Sites and Areas of Interest page.

Some children and adults may have higher exposure to PFAS than others.

• Infants who:
  • Drink formula mixed with PFAS-contaminated water.
  • Drink breastmilk from persons exposed to PFAS.
    • Due to the many benefits of breastfeeding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that most nursing people continue to breastfeed. For more information, please visit PFAS and Breastfeeding.
    • Clinicians can assist patients in deciding whether to breastfeed based on factors specific to the patient and the child.
• Young children: Young children crawl on floors and put things in their mouths which leads to a higher risk of exposure to PFAS in carpets, household dust, toys, and cleaning products.

Some people have higher exposures to PFAS than others because of their occupations or where they live

• Workers: People whose work involves the making or processing of PFAS and materials that contain PFAS are more likely to be exposed than the general population. Workers may be exposed by touching or swallowing PFAS or PFAS-containing materials or by breathing in associated dust, aerosols or fumes. For more information on worker exposures, please visit the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health PFAS webpage.
• People who live, work or play around PFAS sites.

Michigan is leading the nation in addressing PFAS contamination. Click on the images below to learn more about our actions, projects and collaborations across the state.

The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART)
MPART is a team of seven state agencies, including MDHHS, established to identify sources of PFAS, address PFAS contamination at the sources and work with local health departments to protect people in areas where groundwater is impacted by PFAS. Learn more here.

A Short History of PFAS in Michigan
View this timeline to see how PFAS has been addressed in Michigan in the past.

MDHHS Biomonitoring and PFAS Health Studies
Explore the various MDHHS biomonitoring projects and PFAS health studies underway.

Regulatory and Health-Based Values to Protect Your Health
Learn more about how regulatory values, like maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and health-based values, like MDHHS comparison values, are developed and used to protect your health.

Health Consultations and Reports
Read MDHHS health consultations and reports.

PFAS Basics
View videos exploring the basics of PFAS.

Call the MDHHS Environmental Health Hotline to talk to a toxicologist about your exposure concerns: 800-648-6942

Visit Michigan.gov/PFASResponse for information on how Michigan is addressing PFAS in the environment.

Visit Michigan.gov/CareforMiDrinkingWater to learn more about drinking water contamination.

View PFAS fact sheets.