News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
91.7FM Alpena and WCML-TV Channel 6 Alpena are off the air. Click here to learn more.

Members of Congress sending safer water request to Trump administration

Several Michigan members of Congress are sending a letter to the Trump administration. They're requesting stronger safeguards for dangerous chemicals in drinking water.

A recent Harvard study found six million Americans are drinking water contaminated with a group of chemicals known as PFAS.

The chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of liver damage and pregnancy problems, among other health issues.

PFAS chemicals have turned up in different parts of Michigan, stemming from decades old contamination.

Michigan Representatives Brenda Lawrence, Debbie Dingell, Fred Upton, and Dan Kildee co-signed the letter with other members of Congress asking EPA administrators to reconsider current PFAS standards.

The representatives say the current EPA health advisory level is too high.  They point to new research from the federal government showing risks at far lower levels of PFAS exposure.