The MDHHS released additional findings from the North Kent County Exposure Assessment, or NKCEA, designed to measure amounts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, commonly known as PFAS, in the blood of residents drinking water from private wells in north Kent County.
PFAS is a large group of human-made substances used in manufacturing, firefighting foam and consumer products. Often called the “forever chemical,” it’s been determined that it can pose health risks, including cancer.
PFAS was discovered in some wells in northern Kent County in 2016. From November 2018 to June 2019, the MDHHS and Kent County Health Department hosted clinics for impacted area residents measuring PFAS levels in their blood.
This second report describes several findings, including that for most NKCEA participants, residential drinking water wells were a major exposure source of certain PFAS. Also, that some participants had low concentrations of PFAS in their drinking water but still had PFAS in their blood, indicating that these individuals had been exposed to PFAS from a source other than their drinking water.
Two webinars will be held Wednesday, March 6th, at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. You can register by going to Michigan.gov/DEHBio
You can also register by 844-464-7327
There will also be an in-person forum on Wednesday, March 13th from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Plainfield Township Office.
