MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin environmental officials say chemicals known as PFAS have contaminated creeks in Dane and Monroe counties as well as portions of the Mississippi, Wisconsin and Menominee rivers.
The Department of Natural Resources sampled the five water bodies this summer because they’re near known or suspected PFAS contamination sites such as military bases.
The department said Monday that the first round of test results show elevated levels of contamination in Starkweather Creek in Dane County and Silver and Suukjak Sep Creek in Monroe County. The department found lower levels of contamination in the Mississippi between Minneapolis and La Crosse, the Wisconsin River between Rhinelander and Nekoosa and the Menominee near Marinette.
PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made chemicals used in a variety of non-stick products such as fire-fighting foam.
