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ALPENA -- The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy recently announced newly established safe values for two additional polyfluoroalkyl substances -- better known as PFAS or "forever chemicals" -- in Michigan waterways.
EGLE's Water Resource Division determined that sufficient data is available to create human health water quality values for PFAS compounds perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, also known as PFHxS, and perfluorononanoic acid, also known as PFNA.
Safe levels for those two compounds had not previously been set.
EGLE set the values after finding varying levels of the compounds in Michigan waters.
There are thousands of different types of PFAS chemicals.
Water quality values define the maximum concentration a chemical can reach in Michigan's lakes, rivers, and other surface waters without impacting recreational activities, fish consumption, and other uses.
EGLE said water quality values are different from PFAS maximum contaminant levels, which are meant to apply to drinking water systems. Water quality values apply to other waterways, such as lakes, rivers, and streams.
Scott Dean, strategic communications adviser of EGLE, said some studies involving people have shown PFAS can lower a woman's chance of getting pregnant, increase cholesterol levels, increase the chance of cancer, change immune response, and other health effects.
PFAS chemicals are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because most of the compounds do not break down over time.
EGLE says waterways should not have more than 59 parts per trillion of PFHxS and not more than 19 parts per trillion of PFNA in drinking water and not more than 210 parts per trillion of PFHxS and 30 parts per trillion in non-drinking water.
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For more information on the state's response to polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, visit michigan.gov/pfasresponse.