In the spring of 2026, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared September 21-25, 2026 as PFAS Awareness Week. 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.
During this week, everyone in Michigan is urged to take steps to reduce their exposure to PFAS through actions such as sampling their private drinking water well to see if it is impacted by PFAS, checking the Eat Safe Fish guides before consuming locally caught fish, avoiding foam on surface water, and reducing the use of consumer products that can contain PFAS.
PFAS Awareness Week was an idea that came directly from the Citizens Advisory Workgroup, made up of Michigan citizens impacted by PFAS.
Events are planned in Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, East Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, Traverse City, Allendale, and Oscoda. We'll share the details when we have them - check back soon!
PFAS move easily through the ground and can get into the groundwater you drink when products or wastes containing them are disposed of, used, or spilled onto the ground or into lakes and rivers.
If you have a private drinking water well, testing is your responsibility. The only way to know for sure whether there are PFAS in your drinking water well is to sample.
Before you go fishing, check the Eat Safe Fish Guide to:
Make sure you know how to identify the types of fish you will be catching.
Understand what amount of the fish you catch is safe to eat. Depending on the type of fish and water body it is caught from, this can vary a lot.
Foam that forms on rivers, lakes, and streams can contain harmful bacteria or chemicals like PFAS.
By avoiding foam, you can make sure that you, your family, or your pets don't accidentally swallow any, as this can potentially be harmful to health.
You can be exposed to PFAS from every-day household items such as carpeting, cosmetics, and cleaning products.
Not only can switching to PFAS-free products decrease daily exposure to PFAS, but it also can decrease the amount of PFAS entering the environment.
You've probably heard about PFAS in the news, but what are they and where do they come from?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals used in making things like firefighting foam, stain repellants, and non-stick cookware.
PFAS can't break down easily in the environment and some PFAS can build-up in our bodies, which can lead to health risks.
Looking for a more in-depth overview of PFAS? This 60-minute video tells you the top 10 things to know about PFAS.
