Capital Times – Lake Monona’s foam has highest PFAS levels in Wisconsin, study finds
July 12, 2024 | By Natalie Yahr
If you spend enough time near lakes or rivers, you might sometimes spot a fluffy layer of foam near the shore.
For years, health and environmental officials warned Wisconsinites to steer clear of that foam. Though it’s usually made mostly of plants and microbes, it also concentrates the toxic chemicals called PFAS found in the waters below.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were developed for their water- and stain-resistant properties, used in everything from non-stick pans to firefighting foam. Studies link them to a variety of health problems, including cancer and low birth weight, and they’re often called “forever chemicals” because they take so long to break down.
Now, a new University of Wisconsin-Madison study finds the foam problem may be more widespread than previously thought.
The study, published this month in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, finds the PFAS levels in the foam on Lake Monona and Lake Waubesa are the highest in Wisconsin, thousands of times higher than the levels in the water itself.