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PFAS in Fish and Wildlife

An adult painted turtle standing on a log submerged in water

PFAS in Fish and Wildlife

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) coordinate to collect and test fish, white-tailed deer and other wild game for PFAS.

Deer

In October of 2018, MDHHS and DNR issued a 'Do Not Eat' advisory for deer taken within five miles of Clark's Marsh in Oscoda Township. The advisory is due to high levels of PFAS chemicals found in deer taken within five miles of the Marsh. After analyzing test results for PFAS from white-tailed deer taken in other locations in the state, MDHHS concluded that consumption guidelines are not needed for deer harvested in the other locations.

Fish

MDHHS releases Eat Safe Fish Guides annually in the Spring, and emergency advisories as needed. Fish across the state are tested for PFAS in addition to other chemicals such as mercury, as all fish have some amount of mercury. As new guidelines are set as a result of elevated levels of PFOS, Michigan is releasing those advisories outside of the annual Eat Safe Fish Guides update. 

Wildlife

In December 2019, MDHHS issued a "Do Not Eat" advisory for resident aquatic and semi-aquatic animals living in or near Clark's Marsh, Oscoda Township area, which includes fish, aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals (including muskrats), amphibians (including frogs), mollusks (including snails), reptiles (including turtles), and arthropods (including crayfish).