State Releases Plan to Combat PFAS Chemicals

Friday, December 18th, 2020 -- 9:04 AM

(AP) Prevention of future pollution from forever chemicals known as PFAS, while also developing ways to reduce the use of the chemicals, are among the recommendations included in a Wisconsin action plan released Wednesday by Gov. Tony Evers’ administration after a year of study.

Nearly 20 state agencies, along with the University of Wisconsin, worked on the report to tackle the growing pollution and public concern around PFAS. The chemicals have been linked to cancer, liver disease and reproductive health problems.

The chemicals don’t easily break down in the environment and have been used for decades in a range of products, including firefighting foam and stain-resistant sprays. They have been detected in humans, wildlife, fish and in the groundwater, surface water, soil and air.

They have also been found in more than 40 rural and urban areas across the state, including in Marinette, Superior, Madison and Milwaukee.  Evers issued an executive order in 2019 calling on the state Department of Natural Resources lead the work to come up with an action plan to address both the environmental and public health risks posed by PFAS contamination.

The DNR is also in the process of developing standards for two of the most studied compounds, PFOS and PFOA, in ground, surface and drinking water.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.