Learn more about PFAS in Barry County
People Working for a Better Barry County
Sandy Wynn-Stelt
Co-Chair of GLPAN
Sandy Wynn-Stelt, co-chair of GLPAN, serves on the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team’s Citizens Advisory Work Group and was recently appointed to the Environmental Rules Review Committee in EGLE.
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Tony Spaniola
Co-Chair of GLPAN
Tony is a national expert on PFAS, a member of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition, and frequently called upon for comment and testimony.
Cathy Wusterbarth
Community Leader
Cathy Wusterbarth, a community leader and registered dietitian, co-founded Need Our Water (NOW) in Oscoda after discovering PFAS contamination from Wurtsmith Air Force Base.
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Salah Ali
Community Leader
Salah Ali, an automotive engineer and community activist, serves on MI's Advisory Council on Environmental Justice. Additionally, he's on the transition team for Dearborn's Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.
Robb Kerr
Community Leader
Robb Kerr, an Ann Arbor small business owner and architect, joined GLPAN as a community advocate after finding PFAS contamination in the Huron River. He co-chairs the Wolfpack Clean Water Hunt Team.
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PFAS in Barry County
PFAS + Barry County
As a Barry County resident, you and the 61,045 people living in your community need to stay informed about the threat posed by toxic PFAS contamination.
A quick look at the numbers in Barry County:
- There are 5 sites contaminated with toxic PFAS.
- 17% of residents are over the age of 65, and their health can be aggravated by PFAS contamination.
- 5.5% are children, who are especially vulnerable to PFAS.
To combat the harmful effects of PFAS, we must:
- Raise funds to clean up the CES Landfill of Hastings, Viking Corporation, and Kavco Landfill.
- Raise awareness of PFAS contamination in Barry County waterways, and conduct local events to educate boaters and swimmers of the risks associated with PFAS.
- Recruit volunteers in key communities such as Hastings and Cloverdale to get the word out about this risk to our community.
- Raise funds to continue testing important water sources like Daggett Lake.
- Raise awareness of potential PFAS contamination in Barry County waterways.
Join the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network and share your story.
Frequently Asked Questions
PFAS is an acronym for a class of more than 4,700 different chemicals. Beginning in the 1940’s, PFAS have been used in a variety of industrial products, like stain and water-resistant fabrics, cleaning products, paints, and fire-fighting foams. PFAS are commonly referred to as forever chemicals, because they can take thousands of years to break down. Unfortunately, they are also linked to a wide array of health problems.
The full impacts of PFAS exposure and contamination are still being studied, and will be for years to come. These invisible chemicals are a problem for humans of any age and for all living creatures. This is because PFAS collects in our bodies over time and can take years to leave.
Because we are often exposed to different types of PFAS, they continuously add up in our bodies and in our bloodstreams. This is a real concern because PFAS can negatively affect our health. PFAS have been linked to:
Studies show that some of the potential and common health impacts associated with PFAS exposure are liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, reduced vaccination and immunity effectiveness, hormone suppression, testicular and kidney cancer.
Because we are often exposed to different types of PFAS, they continuously add up in our bodies and in our bloodstreams. This is a real concern because PFAS can negatively affect our health. PFAS have been linked to:
- elevated cholesterol
- thyroid disease
- immuno-suppression
- damage to the liver and kidneys
- various fertility issues
- different types of cancers (testicular and kidney cancers)
Studies show that some of the potential and common health impacts associated with PFAS exposure are liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, high cholesterol, obesity, reduced vaccination and immunity effectiveness, hormone suppression, testicular and kidney cancer.
GLPAN, the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, harnesses the collective resources, perspectives and expertise in PFAS impacted-communities, and fuses it with organizations' own resources and expertise. Together, we work to educate decision-makers at the state and federal level, secure funding for large-scale cleanup, and ensure accountability for swift, comprehensive and equitable solutions to PFAS contamination for people across the Great Lakes region.
GLPAN strives to bring impacted communities together to raise awareness and find solutions for toxic PFAS contamination happening across the region.
GLPAN provides tools and resources for communities grappling with PFAS contamination from top PFAS experts. These communities are empowered to hold polluters responsible and seek cleanup solutions for the contamination.
GLPAN strives to bring impacted communities together to raise awareness and find solutions for toxic PFAS contamination happening across the region.
GLPAN provides tools and resources for communities grappling with PFAS contamination from top PFAS experts. These communities are empowered to hold polluters responsible and seek cleanup solutions for the contamination.
The Great Lakes PFAS Action Network is a coalition centered and driven by people impacted by toxic PFAS pollution.