According to TV6 in Upper Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning residents and visitors to avoid foam found on lakes, rivers, and other surface waters because it may contain high levels of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” along with harmful bacteria. Officials say the foam can appear white, off-white, or brown and often collects near dams, bays, and river barriers.
The agency advises anyone who comes into contact with the foam to rinse off immediately and to keep pets away from it as well. While skin exposure is considered low risk, accidentally swallowing contaminated foam could increase exposure to PFAS, which have been linked to health concerns including liver damage and high cholesterol.
PFAS are "forever" chemicals used in products such as nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, waterproof clothing, and food packaging. Because these chemicals do not easily break down in the environment, they can build up in water supplies, soil, wildlife, and the human body over time. PFAS can be found in sewage sludge, which is often used in farming, and can then leak into the soil and water and reach people and animals.
As communities and industries look for ways to manage PFAS-contaminated waste, technologies such as multiple hearth furnaces are being explored for sewage sludge incineration and destruction of PFAS compounds. Multiple hearth furnaces operate at high temperatures and can significantly reduce or destroy harmful contaminants in biosolids, helping to limit the spread of PFAS into farmland and water systems.