foam on Michigan's waters

foam on Michigan’s waters

By Max Reinhart
The Detroit News

(The Detroit News) Michigan’s numerous waterways offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, but as summer draws near, state health experts warned that even touching the foam that sometimes accumulates on those waterways could lead to health problems.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement that anyone who comes in contact with the foam should rinse off as soon as possible to avoid inadvertently ingesting the “forever chemicals” that can build up in the substance.

Foam can form on lakes, rivers, streams and other surface waters and is notorious for containing high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to harmful health effects.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement last week came days after the Trump administration announced plans to roll back federal standards for certain PFAS, raising concerns among Michigan residents whose drinking water has been contaminated by the pollutants.

PFAS can enter public waterways when products, industrial waste or firefighting foam containing them are released into the environment and then carried by runoff, groundwater or wastewater discharge into rivers and lakes.

foam on Michigan’s waters

Levels are particularly high in the foam sometimes found atop Michigan’s surface waters. The state health department said the foam can be white, off-white or brown in color. It may have an earthy or fishy scent and tends to accumulate in bays, eddies, dams and other river barriers.

State officials have long advised people to avoid swallowing foam or letting their pets swallow it for fear of contamination.

As summer approaches, the state is telling Michigan residents and visitors to rinse off or bathe as soon as possible after touching any foam.

“The risk of PFAS exposure through your skin is low. However, you can accidentally swallow PFAS, as well as bacteria, algae, viruses and other chemicals, if you do not rinse off or bathe after touching foam,” Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said in a statement. “Rinsing off or bathing after water activities will help protect you, your family and your pets from harmful substances that may be in foam or water.”

Pet owners should also be vigilant, as animals can ingest foam residue that has built up in their fur when they groom themselves. MDDHS recommends rinsing pets and bathing them with fresh water if they come in contact with foam.

Levels of PFAS above 70 parts per trillion are considered unsafe for human consumption. They are among a group of chemicals used worldwide during the past century in manufacturing, firefighting and common household items as well as other consumer products.

foam on Michigan’s waters

Michigan has nearly 400 sites with known or suspected PFAS pollution, according to a state database. Locations include military facilities, dumps and chemical manufacturers, among other sites.

The chemicals contain extremely stable bonds that resist the natural breakdown process, giving rise to their “forever chemical” moniker. They have been linked to serious health issues, including high cholesterol and liver damage. Some pose risks of cancer or reduced immune system functioning.

On May 18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to rescind and delay federal standards for some PFAS. The standards were challenged by the chemical industry, which sued after the rules were enacted in 2024.

In announcing the rollbacks, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the Biden administration failed to follow Safe Drinking Water Act requirements when creating the regulations.

The Republican administration’s proposal was met with pushback by some lawmakers, including Michigan’s U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., who fear the changes will affect cleanup projects at Camp Grayling and the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, where military activities released PFAS compounds that have moved into waterways and residents’ drinking water wells.