Michigan’s lakes will be tempting this weekend as temperatures warm up, but the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is warning residents and visitors to avoid foam on Michigan lakes, rivers, streams and other surface waters.
The foam can contain harmful chemicals and or bacteria, including high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
PFAS, a large group of human-made chemicals that can have harmful health effects, officials say.
“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,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said in a May 20 release.
“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,” Bagdasarian said.
Foam can be white, off-white or brown, and may have an earthy or fishy scent and it tends to collect in bays, eddies, dams or other river barriers.
PFAS contaminated foam was first discovered on Van Etten Lake in July 2017 when a group of high school students participating in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) summer program hosted by Michigan State University and Dow of Midland, encountered foam as they prepared to sample Van Etten Lake surface water for PFAS.
Noting the amount of foam and its unusual characteristics (stiffer and whiter than foams that naturally occur on lakes), they decided to sample the foam. The foams were contaminated with several PFAS compounds, but most notably with PFOS, PFAS Action Response Team said.
MDHHS says if pets come in contact with foam, they should be rinsed off and bathed with fresh water.
There is foam on my lake? What is it?
Foam can be naturally occurring or form because of environmental pollution, according to the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team.
Foam can have much higher concentrations of PFAS than the waterbody it is found in. Foam can also contain harmful bacteria. Swallowing any foam could be a risk to your health, the PFAS Action Response Team said.
What are state officials doing about PFAS?
Michigan’s PFAS Action Response Team is actively tracking PFAS foam appearances on lakes and streams, the state agency says.
The Michigan Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) also use drones to find groundwater seeps to help understand where the PFAS contaminated foam may be coming from.
What to do if you suspect PFAS foam has formed on a lake or river?
EGLE’s online dashboard allows residents to document pollution incidents by submitting photos of the foam.
What to do if I come in contact with foam?
If you touch any foam, rinse off or bathe as soon as possible, MDHHS says.
“Your skin is generally a good barrier to PFAS. However, touching foam without rinsing off or bathing can lead to accidentally swallowing foam and its contents,” officials say.
Where does PFAS come from?
PFAS is found in numerous consumer products, as well as firefighting foam.
The Washington State Department of Health said PFAS chemicals are, or have previously been used in:
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Swim plans this holiday weekend? Why you should avoid foamy water
Reporting by Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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