A new study by the University of Wisconsin–Madison has found that the foam on Lake Monona and Lake Waubesa contains the highest levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in Wisconsin, with concentrations thousands of times higher than in the water itself, according to The Capital Times.
PFAS, known for their resistance to water and stains, are used in products like nonstick pans and firefighting foam and are linked to various health issues, including cancer.
Researchers analyzed samples from 21 Wisconsin lakes and rivers, discovering Lake Monona had the highest foam PFAS levels at 328,000 parts per trillion, about 7,000 times the level in the water below. Lake Waubesa followed with 200,000 parts per trillion in the foam, 2,500 times the level in the water below.
The foam problem extends beyond lakes with known high PFAS levels, as even Lake Mendota, upstream of the highly contaminated Starkweather Creek, showed foam PFAS levels of 12,000 parts per trillion despite water PFAS levels of just one-fifth the level of Lake Monona’s water.
Efforts to reduce PFAS in Wisconsin are stalled due to a political deadlock over a $125 million budget allocation for cleanup.
