PFAS Awareness Weeks
Michigan and Wisconsin Launch PFAS Awareness Weeks to Address Forever Chemical Risks
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Key Points
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PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, kidney disease and other serious health problems, with contamination posing particular concerns for families living near military bases, airports, manufacturing facilities and municipal wastewater systems.
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More than 140 million people in the United States are estimated to have PFAS-contaminated drinking water, and the chemicals are costly to remove because they persist in the environment.
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One Michigan-funded project, led by Michigan Technological University’s Judith Perlinger, is examining whether applying composted fish waste changes PFAS levels in garden-grown vegetables.
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Michigan officials cited specific contamination examples, including groundwater pollution near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda and PFAS-containing Scotchgard waste dumped by Wolverine WorldWide into unlined pits in Belmont.
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Wisconsin’s PFAS Awareness Week is being coordinated with neighboring states including Michigan and Minnesota, while the state Department of Natural Resources is directing residents to its website for information about PFAS risks and local impacts.
Michigan and Wisconsin are observing PFAS Awareness Week from September 21-25, 2026, shining a spotlight on "forever chemicals" found in everyday products like nonstick cookware and firefighting foams. Wisconsin DNR launched the state's first PFAS Awareness Week backed by $125 million from Wisconsin's PFAS Trust Fund, while Michigan has identified over 300 contaminated sites and committed $1.9 million to research institutions studying how these persistent chemicals move through agricultural systems.
PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, kidney disease, and other serious health problems. Food Processing reported that more than 140 million Americans are estimated to have PFAS-contaminated drinking water, with contamination particularly threatening families near military bases, airports, and manufacturing facilities.
Michigan Tackles Over 300 Contaminated Sites
Michigan has documented PFAS pollution at more than 300 locations across the state. WXOW reported that specific examples include groundwater pollution near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda and PFAS-containing Scotchgard waste dumped by Wolverine WorldWide into unlined pits in Belmont. State researchers say contamination is concentrated in specific locations rather than widespread, offering some relief to residents in unaffected areas.
The state's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development allocated $1.9 million in grants to five research institutions to understand PFAS movement through farming systems. One project led by Michigan Technological University's Judith Perlinger is examining whether composted fish waste changes PFAS levels in garden-grown vegetables, offering practical solutions for affected households.
Wisconsin Mobilizes $135 Million in PFAS Funding
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers backed the state's inaugural PFAS Awareness Week with major financial commitments. WQOW reported that $125 million from Wisconsin's PFAS Trust Fund and $10 million from a Tyco settlement will support testing, water treatment, well replacement, and clean-water projects across the state. The funding represents one of the largest state-level PFAS response efforts in the nation.
WRCO noted that Wisconsin is coordinating with neighboring states Minnesota and Michigan in a regional effort to combat PFAS contamination. The Department of Natural Resources directs residents to its website for information about PFAS risks, local impacts, and available resources for testing and remediation.
Why PFAS Removal Costs Remain High
PFAS chemicals are notoriously difficult and expensive to remove from drinking water because they persist indefinitely in the environment—hence the nickname "forever chemicals." Traditional water treatment methods don't effectively eliminate them, requiring specialized and costly filtration systems. This makes PFAS-contaminated sites particularly challenging for municipalities and households to remediate without significant investment.
The widespread contamination across the United States reflects decades of industrial use in products from flame retardants to food packaging. Food Processing reported that the FDA restricted PFAS-containing grease-proofing agents on paper and paperboard food packaging in February 2024, a step toward limiting new contamination pathways while communities continue battling existing pollution in groundwater and drinking supplies.
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