PFAS Found In Sediment and Surface Water At Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has received results from surface water and sediment sampling performed in November 2019 to determine if per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly called PFAS, are present in areas that are targeted for potential cleanup-related dredging across the US EPA-designated Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern (AOC).

Results indicate the presence of PFAS compounds in sediment and all surface water samples taken in the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern. PFBA (Perfluorobutanoate) was found in 100% of the surface water samples. PFBA is considered less toxic than the more widely studied compounds PFOA (Perfluorooctanoate) and PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonate).

Thirteen locations in the Milwaukee, Menomonee, Kinnickinnic Rivers and inner and outer harbors, as well as one location in Lake Michigan, were sampled for 35 PFAS compounds. This watershed is the most urban watershed in the state of Wisconsin with approximately 90% of the area considered urban.

The highest concentrations of PFAS were found in the samples taken furthest upstream from Lake Michigan. Among the 14 locations sampled, PFAS concentrations in sediment and surface water are highest in the Kinnickinnic River with PFHxS (Perfluorohexanesulfonate) at 44.4 parts per trillion (ppt) in surface water and PFOS at 9.1 parts per billion (ppb) in sediment.

In contrast to the Kinnickinnic River, results from sampling location 14, the location closest to the drinking water source intake for the Linnwood and Howard Avenue Water Treatment Plants, show concentrations of PFOA and PFOS at less than detection limits of 1 part per trillion (ppt) each.

Sample locations and the analytical report for the results can be found on the DNR’s website.

By comparison, the Milwaukee Estuary PFAS surface water results are generally lower than those PFAS concentrations recently found in Starkweather Creek in Madison, and higher than the recently sampled Wisconsin, Mississippi and Menomonee Rivers.

The results will inform the future management of river sediment dredged during the clean-up of the AOC. Much of the river sediment in the AOC is contaminated with “legacy contaminants,” including PCBs and PAHs, that were generated over many decades. These legacy contaminants still pose threats to environmental health – and the removal, remediation, and subsequent management of this contaminated river sediment is the focus of the AOC clean-up effort.

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products, including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foam. These contaminants have made their way into the environment through spills of PFAS-containing materials and discharges of PFAS-containing wastewater to treatment plants and through use of certain types of firefighting foams. PFAS can persist in the environment and the human body for long periods of time. Recent scientific findings indicate that exposure to certain PFAS may have harmful health effects in people.

Eating fish containing elevated levels of PFAS is a potential human health concern. The Department is currently awaiting PFAS results from fish that were collected from the Milwaukee River and additional fish will be collected from the AOC in 2020. DNR’s current fish consumption guidance restricts consumption in the Milwaukee Estuary based on PCBs. People should continue to follow these advisories as we learn more. Once these fish testing results are available, the Department will work with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to evaluate whether the advisory needs to be updated.

To keep people safe and healthy during recreational activities, DHS recommends people avoid drinking or swallowing water and to shower after swimming, wading, or playing in the water, to prevent accidental ingestion. DHS also recommends pets to be thoroughly rinsed off after contact with water. For more PFAS health-related information, please visit the DHS website.

Please visit the DNR website for more information on PFAS.

More about the PFAS Problem

• PFAS Found In Sediment and Surface Water At Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – May 7th, 2020
• Johnson Controls Wants Pause in PFAS Testing – Isiah Holmes – Apr 26th, 2020
• DNR Directs JCI/Tyco To Provide Emergency Drinking Water for Three Homeowners On Private Wells Near JCI/Tyco Biosolid Applied Fields Investigation Area After Sampling Results Show High Levels of PFAS Contamination – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Apr 14th, 2020
• State DNR Forges Ahead on ‘Forever Chemicals’ – Danielle Kaeding – Apr 7th, 2020
• Johnson Controls Must Expand Inspection of PFAS Pollution – Danielle Kaeding – Feb 22nd, 2020
• Assembly attempts to provide political cover while constituents suffer the consequences – Wisconsin Conservation Voters – Feb 21st, 2020
• Campaign Cash: Big Money Groups Oppose PFAS Regulation – Wisconsin Democracy Campaign – Feb 15th, 2020
• Baldwin Calling on EPA to Deliver on Promises Made in PFAS Action Plan – U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin – Feb 14th, 2020
• Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC) Developing PFAS Action Plan For State – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Feb 4th, 2020
• Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Push $10M Clean Water Fund – Danielle Kaeding – Jan 31st, 2020
• DNR Working On New PFAS Rules – Erik Gunn – Jan 24th, 2020
• What Are PFAS Chemicals? – Christy Remucal – Jan 15th, 2020
• DNR Providing Emergency Drinking Water to Homeowner with PFAS Contamination Near JCI Investigation Area – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Jan 10th, 2020
• Senate Debates PFAS in Firefighting Foam – Danielle Kaeding – Jan 9th, 2020
• DNR Confirms PFAS-Containing Foam Found at the Mouth of Starkweather Creek and Lake Monona – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Dec 19th, 2019
• Why PFAS Pollution Is So Scary – Erik Gunn – Nov 18th, 2019
• Op Ed: Everyone Deserves Clean Water – State Sen. Jon Erpenbach – Nov 4th, 2019
• Few Local Water Systems Test for PFAS – Danielle Kaeding – Oct 30th, 2019
• MKE County: High PFAS Levels Found at Airport – Graham Kilmer – Oct 24th, 2019
• State Board Okays Rules on PFAS Pollution – Isiah Holmes – Oct 24th, 2019
• DNR Releases PFAS Contamination Data – Erik Gunn – Oct 8th, 2019
• U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Presses Trump Administration for Urgency on Addressing PFAS Contamination in Water – U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin – Sep 25th, 2019
• U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Pressing for Answers on Reports of Efforts to Weaken Contamination Standards for PFAS – U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin – Mar 25th, 2019

Mentioned in This Press Release

Government: Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Source: urbanmilwaukee