Michigan Residents May Be Sick From Toxins: Researchers Investigate

I think that many of us often forget that the environment around us affects our daily lives in so many ways. From the weather changing or daily commutes to the atmosphere affecting our health, the world around us is a large factor in our wellbeing. Some parts of the world are in better shape than others, but some residents have no clue the dangers that surround them.

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For those of us in Michigan, we are aware of how the conditions around us can change the lives that we live. For example, the Flint water crisis was a huge wake up call for most of the state as we realized how easily we can be affected by things we may not even know to be there. Also, in Kalamazoo, Graphic Packaging has been cited multiple times for contaminating the Kalamazoo River.

Now that these things have occurred, the people of Michigan have become more aware and diligent of the environment around them. Mary Zack of Otsego survived a battle with cancer 6 years ago, now she wants answers to what's happening in her community.

A campaign she started would get the attention of state and federal officials who came to the small town to investigate. They would find PFAs in resident wells before shutting them down and investigating chemicals that may be linked to the paper industry. After not getting the results they liked, they formed Justice for Otsego.

Justice for Otsego partnered with researchers at Michigan State University and The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) granted them $500,000 to support their mission. They believe there is a direct connection between the contamination in their community and the sickness levels they are seeing.

Several stories have come out of residents in Otsego to be battling with cancer and some of them have come out victorious while others haven't been as lucky. They simply just want answers and solutions for how to stop the contamination and sickness from riddling their community.