OSCODA TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Hunters are being reminded not to eat venison from deer taken within three miles of Clark’s Marsh in Iosco County because they are more likely to have PFAS in their bodies.
Deer within three miles of the marsh were more likely to have various per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), in their livers and muscle tissue. PFOS are associated with several negative health effects, such as liver damage, high cholesterol and reduced fertility.
There are a total of three separate health advisories for Clark’s Marsh. There is a Do Not Eat fish advisory that was issued in 2012, a do Do Not Eat deer advisory issued in 2018, and a Do Not Eat resident aquatic and semi-aquatic wildlife advisory issued in 2019.
People should not eat any fish and aquatic or semi-aquatic wildlife taken from Clark’s Marsh. That includes muskrats, frogs, snails, turtles, crayfish, and more.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) also said that people should not eat organs from any fish, deer or other wild game taken from anywhere in the state because many chemicals, including PFAS, can accumulate in the organs of wildlife.
What are PFAS? Are they harmful to humans?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).
They have been used across the globe in manufacturing, firefighting and thousands of common household and other consumer products.
They can be found in the environment and in the human body. They don’t break down and will accumulate over time. They are also found in fish and wildlife.
Exposure in people can occur when a person consumes PFAS-contaminated water or food. Exposure can also happen when someone uses products that contain PFAS.
The CDC said human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of PFAS are still uncertain. Studies of animals given large amounts of PFAS show that they can affect growth and development.
Animal studies also showed that PFAS could impact reproduction, thyroid function, the immune system and injure the liver.
- More information about PFAS can be found at Michigan.gov/PFASResponse.
- More information about fish and wild game consumption can be found at Michigan.gov/EatSafeGame.