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Officials Warn People Not To Eat Fish From Michigan Waterway

The Huron River
Dwight Burdette
/
Wikimedia Commons

Health officials are warning people not to eat fish from parts of a southeastern Michigan river because of chemical contamination.

The emergency "Do Not Eat" advisory issued Saturday applies to all fish from the Huron River from Oakland County's Milford to the Livingston and Washtenaw county border. That includes lakes connected by the river, including Kent Lake.

Fish from the lake were tested for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and found to contain high levels. The substances, among chemicals referred to broadly as PFAS, are used in manufacturing, firefighting and thousands of household and consumer products.

Touching the fish or swimming in the water isn't considered a health concern.

PFAS have been detected in waterways in about 30 states. The Michigan Legislature enacted $23 million in emergency spending to address PFAS contamination.

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