FLOW (For Love of Water) — Ensuring the waters of the Great Lakes Basin are healthy, public, and protected for all.
On November 19, 2024, ATSDR accepted the petition (PDF) submitted by Detroit Riverkeeper, For Love of Water, Friends of the Detroit River, Michigan Chapter of Sierra Club, and Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision requesting a Public Health Assessment for the community of Wyandotte, in relation to ongoing toxic discharges from BASF (Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik, Germany’s largest chemical company) facilities located there. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), as the ATSDR APPLETREE cooperative agreement partner, will conduct the public health assessment.
Some fish from the Detroit River have higher amounts of mercury, PCBs, and dioxins. These chemicals are linked to brain development issues in fetuses and children, decreased heart function in adults, the development of certain types of cancer, issues with thyroid function, and fertility problems. Download this guide from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services to learn how you can protect your health
Wattigney WA, Irvin-Barnwell E, Li Z, Ragin-Wilson A. Biomonitoring of toxic metals, organochlorine pesticides, and polybrominated biphenyl 153 in Michigan urban anglers. Environ Res. 2022 Jan;203:111851. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111851. Epub 2021 Aug 9. PMID: 34384752; PMCID: PMC8711253.
The 32-mile Detroit River and surrounding tributaries have been designated as a Great Lakes Area of Concern due to pollution from decades of municipal and industrial discharges, sewer overflows and urban development. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services conducted a biomonitoring study to assess exposures to persistent toxic substances in Detroit urban shoreline anglers who may be at high exposure risk due to consumption of locally caught fish.
Wattigney WA, Irvin-Barnwell E, Li Z, Ragin-Wilson A. Biomonitoring of mercury and persistent organic pollutants in Michigan urban anglers and association with fish consumption. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2019 Jul;222(6):936-944. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.06.007. Epub 2019 Jun 27. PMID: 31257185; PMCID: PMC6705116.
Participants consumed a median of 64 Detroit River caught fish meals in the past year. The Detroit urban anglers’ median total blood mercury concentrations was 3.2 times higher than that for the general adult U.S. population. PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) concentrations among the Detroit anglers aged 18–39 years were higher than the U.S. population of the same race/ethnicity.
Wattigney WA, Li Z, Ragin-Wilson A. The Biomonitoring of Great Lakes Populations Program. J Environ Health. 2017 Apr;79(8):42-44. PMID: 28912609; PMCID: PMC5595369.
The BGLP program consists of a series of cross-sectional studies carried out collaboratively with state health departments. The primary program objectives are: 1) to assess body burdens of persistent toxic substances in people at high risk of exposure to contaminants in the Great Lakes ecosystem, and 2) to use biomonitoring data to inform health officials and help guide public health actions throughout the restoration process.
