Since the mid-20th century, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — a class of thousands of chemicals commonly known as PFAS — have been used in everyday items such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams and the packaging industry because they are resistant to grease, heat, oil and water.

But many toxicological studies have cautioned that prolonged exposure to PFAS can cause myriad health complications. Human exposure can occur in a variety of ways, but some of the most common sources are contaminated water, food or working in industries that utilize these chemicals.

In recent years, Michigan has been at the epicenter of the national PFAS conversation. In 2017, the state launched the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, or MPART, to examine the scope of the problem.

The goal of MPART is to protect public health by identifying sources of PFAS, addressing contamination at the sources, and working with local health departments to protect people in areas where groundwater is affected. In 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order to make MPART an enduring body that leads collaboration, cooperation and coordination of PFAS response at all levels of government indefinitely.

For more, read the full story at the Center for PFAS Research website.