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Dangerous Levels of PFOs in Muskegon Lake Causes Unique Foaming

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PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonate) is a variant of a PFAS, which is a synthetic chemical commonly referred to as a “forevever chemical.” 

PFAS are referred to this way because they do not naturally degrade in the environment. They have been linked to various diseases and cancer.

The limit if the state of Michigan for drinking water content is 8 parts per trillion (PPT).

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PFOS in Muskegon Lake

Local residents have recently reported large amounts of intense waterfoaming on Muskegon Lake. Experts from EGLE and Grand Valley State University have performed tests and found 4,757 ppt of PFOS in the water.

Experts are calling this event “unprecedented” due to the large amount of foaming, and exceptionally high PFOS concentrations.

There are several legacy sites around the Muskegon Lake Watershed for PFAS, such as the Sappi Mill site, which experts are citing as the most likely source for the current contamination in the lake.

The foaming tends to occur when a chemical layer across the surface of the water is agitated by high winds, and the chemical layer froths into shavingcream-like globs on the water’s surface. However, the amount of foaming is unprecedented, and has experts puzzled.

According to Rick Rediske, an environmental chemistry professor at Grand Valley, the foaming is abnormal and unprecedented in scale. He and several other experts are not yet able to pinpoint the trigger event for the outbreak seen on Muskegon Lake. 

 

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