The Michigan Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision next year on a case that will help determine the rules on environmental cleanup of a class of “forever chemicals” in drinking water.

The court heard arguments Wednesday that are part of the state’s long-running battle with the manufacturer 3M over cleaning up PFAS contamination.

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PFAS are a family of chemicals that have become ubiquitous in our environment because of their widespread use in things like clothing, cookware, food packaging, building materials, firefighting foam and more. These chemicals  have been linked to cancer, they don’t break down, and they have contaminated our food, lakes, rivers and groundwater.

The state has passed regulations in recent years to address that. But the case heard by the Michigan Supreme Court this week could roll back those regulations if the court rules in favor of 3M. The company argues that the state did not follow the rules for adopting drinking water regulations. Lower courts ruled against the state. 

William Dichtell is a chemist at Northwestern University who researches how to break down PFAS in energy efficient ways. He joined The Metro on Thursday to talk about his research and how microbes can help break down the forever chemicals.

Dichtell says he gets asked a lot how to avoid PFAS, but due to their prevalence in the environment, there is no way to prevent human exposure.

“We’re using PFAs in so many different contexts, and we have so much historical contamination,” he said. “This has to be solved at the societal level. This isn’t a matter of just changing the brand of toothpaste that you use or drinking a different kind of bottled water or something like that.”

MPRN reporter Rick Pluta contributed to this report. Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation with William Dichtell.

More headlines from The Metro on Nov. 14, 2024:

• Beginning in the 1950s, Mad magazine has been poking fun at  important figures in our politics, our movies, and our broader culture. It’s been done with a purpose to demonstrate that they are flawed like the rest of us. A new documentary about Mad by Pleasant Ridge resident Alan Bernstein makes its local debut at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Redford Theatre. Bernstein joined the show ahead of the screening to discuss his new film.
• The Detroit City Council have passed a new animal ordinance going into effect in January that outlines the type of livestock allowed in the city.  Animal owners will need to apply for a license and pay an annual fee to have chickens, ducks and bees in their backyard. Roosters are not allowed and wild animals remain prohibited. Jerry Hebron Jerry, executive director of the North End Christian Community Development Corporation, joined the show to talk about the impact the new ordinance will have on urban farming. 
• “Monopoly: Detroit edition” features iconic locations like the Ambassador Bridge, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Princess boat and the Renaissance Center. Game maker Top Trumps USA has been creating special city editions of the classic board game for a decade. Tim Barney, of Top Trumps, joined The Metro to talk about the Detroit edition and why they chose to feature the Motor City.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

The Michigan Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday on a challenge by a chemical manufacturer to the state’s drinking water rules for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS.

PFAS are a family of chemicals used in products including clothing, cookware and firefighting foam. PFAS, which are linked to a number of health conditions, are very slow to break down and are often called “forever chemicals.”

The manufacturing company 3M argues the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy did not follow the required process for promulgating rules to deal with PFAS in drinking water. 

3M says the state failed to provide an estimated cost of complying with the regulations for cleaning up groundwater.

The state says 3M is arguing for a needlessly expansive interpretation of the rules. The state is hoping the justices will reverse lower courts when they issue a decision.

A challenge to the state’s rules on water contamination by a group of forever chemicals is on the Michigan Supreme Court’s November oral arguments docket.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s rules are aimed at PFAS,  a family of chemicals used in clothing, cookware and firefighting foam. PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they’re so slow to break down. PFAS have been linked to a variety of conditions and health risks.

The manufacturing company 3M claims the state did not follow the law for promulgating regulations, which includes a requirement to provide an estimated cost of compliance. 3M says that should include the costs of cleaning up drinking water and groundwater. The state says it’s only required to provide an estimate for drinking water cleanup. Lower courts ruled against the state.

The PFAS case is one of a half dozen cases to be argued at the court’s Nov. 13 session.