DETROIT, MI (WOWO) PFAS contamination in Great Lakes fish is declining, offering hope that some species may become safer to eat, according to research reported by Bridge Michigan. Researchers analyzed archived lake trout and walleye samples collected between 1975 and 2020 and found that levels of lo ng-chain PFAS chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA, have dropped significantly since the late 2000s, when manufacturers began phasing out the compounds. In Lake Erie, PFAS concentrations in fish tissue peaked near 450 nanograms per gram in 2005 but fell to about 50 nanograms per gram by 2020. Lake Michigan saw levels decrease from roughly 150 nanograms per gram in 2010 to around 80 nanograms per gram in 2020. Sarah Balgooyen, a lead author and former EPA chemist now at the Colorado School of Mines, told Bridge Michigan that the ecosystem responded quickly to reduced industrial PFAS use. She cautioned, however, that newer “short-chain” PFAS compounds have been introduced, and their long-term impacts on fish and human health remain uncertain. State health officials, as reported by Bridge Michigan, continue to advise anglers to follow fish consumption guidelines. In 98 Michigan water bodies, some fish species remain unsafe to eat, and advisory limits are still in place for hundreds of other waterways. Gary Ankley, a former EPA research toxicologist and coauthor of the study, noted in Bridge Michigan that while the trend is encouraging, PFAS are “forever chemicals” and will persist in lake ecosystems for the foreseeable future. The post Great Lakes Fish Becoming Safer as PFAS Contamination Drops appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less