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Tests: Chemicals In Well Far Higher Than Federal Guidelines

Parchment, Michigan
Facebook/Parchment, Michigan

Tests of a groundwater well in southwestern Michigan show chemical contamination levels far above federal guidelines.

MLive.com reports Tuesday that levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid of more than 900 parts per trillion and perfluorooctanoic acid over 800 parts per trillion were found in the Parchment-area well.

The newspaper says the government's lifetime health advisory is 70 parts per trillion for total PFOS and PFOA. The substances are referred to as PFAS and are used in manufacturing, firefighting and thousands of household and consumer products.

About 3,000 people in Parchment and Cooper Township have been told not to drink or cook with the water, and bottled water is being distributed while the water system is flushed.

Parchment is about 125 miles (200 kilometers) west of Detroit.

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