Health departments are reacting to changes in the state criteria for chemical contaminants in drinking water.
The state announced last week that the action level for PFA chemicals in drinking water was 70 parts per trillion, matching the federal standard.
PFAs, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made chemicals that have been linked to a wide variety of health problems including cancer.
Chuck Lichon is with Health Department Number 2 which oversees Oscoda. In 2016 PFA contamination was found leaking into residential wells. Lichon said the state standard change won’t do much for Oscoda because the Air Force as already taken responsibility.
“As far as our Air Force bases such as the one we have here in Oscoda, It’s not an issue because the Air Force itself has taken responsibility for that 70 parts per billion level.”
Lichon said the standard will help the state go after industrial companies who pollute over the standard.
“In the past, this was an EPA level of 70 parts per trillion but the state never really had an enforcement level. This gives them more teeth so to speak.”
Despite the fact that it won’t impact Oscoda directly Lichon says he’s glad to see the state creating a new standard.