State health officials are telling Michigan residents and visitors to give that mystery foam along lake and river shorelines a wide berth as beach and boating season gets going. The frothy clumps, which can show up white, off-white or brown, may carry harmful bacteria and the so-called forever chemicals known as PFAS. Officials say anyone who does come into contact with the foam should rinse off quickly, and they are urging people to keep children and pets away from foam at the water’s edge.
In Wednesday's press release, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said foam that collects in bays, eddies or against river barriers can contain harmful bacteria and high levels of PFAS, and urged people to rinse off after contact, according to MDHHS. "The risk of PFAS exposure through your skin is low," MDHHS chief medical executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian said in the release. The department noted that accidentally swallowing foam is the main concern and recommended bathing after a day spent on the water.
Local outlets quickly amplified the warning. As reported by CBS Detroit, the foam that sometimes piles up on shorelines can look whitish-yellow and may harbor bacteria and PFAS that concentrate in the froth. The fast push from state agencies is timed for the run of holiday weekends when more people pack Michigan’s lakes and rivers.
How to spot risky foam
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy explains that PFAS-linked foam is often bright white, very lightweight and able to stack up like shaving cream on beaches. Naturally occurring foam, by contrast, is more likely to be off-white or brown and to carry an earthy or fishy odor, according to EGLE. Foam may be sticky, can blow inland and often gathers in bays, eddies or against dams and other river barriers. If you are not sure what you are looking at, officials say to avoid full body contact and keep children and pets away until everyone can rinse thoroughly.
Where foam has turned up before
State sampling records show PFAS-contaminated foam has been documented at sites including Van Etten Lake, Lake Margrethe and stretches of the Rogue, Thornapple and Huron rivers, per the state’s surface water and foam results. Foam can have much higher concentrations of PFAS than the waterbody it is found in, the sampling summary cautions, and officials say those findings help determine where to monitor next. Michigan’s PFAS Action Response Team and EGLE use the sightings to prioritize follow-up testing and track down potential sources.
What to do if you see foam
The state’s advice is simple, and a little unglamorous: do not touch or play in foam, and if contact happens, rinse off with fresh water and bathe as soon as possible. Pet owners should prevent animals from licking foam off their fur and should bathe pets that come in contact with foamy water, according to MDHHS, which also lists an Environmental Health Hotline at 800-648-6942 for questions. Residents who suspect PFAS foam are urged to report sightings through EGLE’s reporting channels (MiEnviro or the PEAS hotline) so agencies can log occurrences and plan sampling.
With warm weather pulling more people to Michigan’s waterfronts, officials say the guidance is a precaution to keep families and pets safe while state agencies continue monitoring and tracing possible sources. Steer clear of the foam, rinse off if you bump into it and report what you see, they say, and you can still enjoy the water without inviting anything unwanted home.
