Michigan Ag Connection - Residents Advised to Avoid Swallowing Huron River Foam

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Residents Advised to Avoid Swallowing Huron River Foam
Michigan Ag Connection - 09/19/2018

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is advising residents to avoid swallowing foam on the Huron River as it may contain high amounts of PFAS. This advisory is being issued as a precaution because of high amounts of PFAS in Huron River surface water and fish, and based on foam test PFAS results from other Michigan waterbodies.

It is recommended that visitors to the Huron River avoid swallowing foam on the water during recreational activities, though an accidental swallow of water is not considered a health concern. Residents are also encouraged to wash their hands after touching foam to avoid swallowing PFAS that might be on your hands. Skin contact with the foam or water is not considered a health concern because current science indicates that PFAS do not move easily through the skin.

Additionally, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recommends that people not allow their pets -- especially dogs -- to come into contact with or swallow the foam. Dogs can potentially swallow foam collected in their fur when grooming themselves. Dogs should be thoroughly rinsed off with fresh water after contact with foamy water.

MDHHS has issued a Do Not Eat advisory for fish from the Huron River where North Wixom Road crosses in Oakland County to the mouth of the Huron River as it enters Lake Erie in Wayne County. This includes: Norton Creek (Oakland County), Hubbell Pond, also known as Mill Pond (Oakland County), Kent Lake (Oakland County), Ore Lake (Livingston County), Strawberry & Zukey Lake (Livingston County), Gallagher Lake (Livingston County), Loon Lake (Livingston County), Whitewood Lakes (Livingston County), Base Line and Portage Lakes (Livingston/Washtenaw County line), Barton Pond (Washtenaw County), Geddes Pond (Washtenaw County), Argo Pond (Washtenaw County), Ford Lake (Washtenaw County), and Belleville Lake (Wayne County).

More information about test results from the Huron River can be found at www.michigan.gov/pfasresponse. For more information about the Eat Safe Fish guidelines, visit www.michigan.gov/eatsafefish.

Residents with health-related questions can call the MDHHS at 800-648-6742. For questions about the environmental investigation, contact the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality at 800-662-9278.

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