Khaberni - Warnings in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota following the discovery of high levels of carcinogenic chemicals in the Great Lakes region.
Recent environmental reports have revealed an increasing danger threatening millions of Americans due to their exposure to hazardous chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or "forever chemicals," after discovering high levels of these in the Great Lakes, the largest source of fresh water in the United States.
According to the British Daily Mail, the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have issued new warnings against consuming local fish or wildlife, after analysis showed they contained high levels of these toxic substances linked to cancer, thyroid disorders, and developmental issues.
Although no official warnings regarding drinking water have been issued yet, Michigan authorities had advised avoiding contact with foam on the water surface due to potential PFAS content. The warning in Wisconsin included the Green Bay area, where eating fish and wild ducks was banned due to contamination.
In Minnesota, warnings extended to ten counties overlooking Lake Superior, while Michigan's warnings included 98 lakes out of 11 thousand, which is three times the number of lakes banned last year.
Experts attribute the spread of pollution to the leakage of chemicals from factories, landfills, and sewage plants into streams and rivers that flow into the Great Lakes. These substances have been detected in all lakes, with the highest levels recorded in Lakes Ontario and Michigan.
This outcome has caused widespread outrage on social media, with some calling for an "immediate cleanup of the lakes," while others mocked what they described as "cancer ducks." The Great Lakes region serves as a drinking water source for nearly 40 million people in America and Canada, heightening concerns over serious environmental and health repercussions.
In the town of Stella in Wisconsin, authorities have held a local paper mill responsible for the chemical leak, noting that tests revealed leaks from the soil, while Ahlstrom Rhinelander, the owner of the mill, confirmed that they are carefully reviewing the results.
PFAS compounds are used in the paper industry, non-stick cookware, clothing, carpets, and food packaging, and they are known for their ability to resist water and oil, but they do not decompose except over thousands of years, making them some of the most dangerous environmental pollutants.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reduced the allowable exposure limit for these substances from 70 parts per trillion to only 4 parts, following mounting evidence linking them to serious diseases including cancer, infertility, and immune deficiencies.
The authorities emphasized that the greatest risk lies in consuming fish or wildlife from contaminated areas, stressing the importance of adhering to the new warnings until further notice.
