67 Environment through water systems, poisoning wildlife and people. Health-care professionals have tied these chemicals to liver and immune system issues in both humans and animals. Researchers continue to study the damaging effects of longterm exposure. As the understanding of the risks associated with PFAS continues to grow, governments around the world are sampling water and mapping PFAS concentrations using GIS technology. The maps provide target areas to address the presence of these enduring chemicals. After Wisconsin DNR identified PFAS contamination levels that exceeded health recommendations in five communities, staff began implementing measures to address the problem. Spearheaded by Johnson and her colleague Jesse Papez, section supervisor for the GIS Data Analysis and Integration Section, Wisconsin DNR developed the Wisconsin PFAS Interactive Data Viewer to visualize the occurrence of PFAS across the state. “PFAS have been around for almost 100 years,” Johnson said. “Two or three years ago [in 2020], there were about 3,000 chemicals that we knew about, and now we’re at 10,000. We’re learning something new every day—learning how they behave in the environment, and how they impact our health. We’re starting to understand a lot more about the science behind them and what we can do to mitigate their impact.” Addressing PFAS in the Water Worldwide Companies that create and use PFAS are under intense scrutiny. They also face lawsuits for contributing to water pollution. The European Union has proposed a ban on the production, use, and sale of about 10,000 of these substances. In Japan, the government focused on improving water quality after a group of residents in Okinawa had high levels of PFAS in their blood. The US EPA proposed the first-ever national drinking water standard for six PFAS in 2023. With the funding, the EPA plans to help communities on the front line of the fight against forever chemicals. Wisconsin is one of several Great Lakes states that have made PFAS a priority to keep their residents and abundant water resources safe. They do this by increasing testing, setting clear standards, and openly sharing their progress. Wisconsin is bordered by two of the world’s largest lakes, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. With more than 1.6 million residents depending on these lakes for their drinking water, lowering PFAS levels has become a critical health priority. For Johnson and her team, GIS provides a better view of PFAS pollution and the health of water systems that are contaminated and most in need of ongoing cleanup. Minnesota tests and maps evidence of PFAS in community water systems. When the Minnesota Department of Health finds more than one PFAS in drinking water, analysts evaluate and communicate the added health risk.
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