PARCHMENT, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Three new national studies are trying to determine if “forever chemicals” known as PFAS compounds increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 or weaken the vaccines’ abilities to protect against the disease. And as those studies get underway, it brings back to mind the water emergency related to PFAS that affected thousands of residents in Kalamazoo County in 2018.
Kalamazoo County health officials have not indicated yet if they are monitoring the studies or have any of their own thoughts on it. We tried to reach them for comment and will update this story if they issue any statements related to it.
In the summer 2018, PFAS contaminated water was discovered in the city of Parchment and in Cooper Township. The health crisis led to a switch from Parchment’s own municipal water system to the city of Kalamazoo’s water system. A landfill from long abandoned paper making factories in Parchment was the cause.
The federally financed studies at Arizona State University, now underway, are examining whether PFAS can increase COVID-19 risk for firefighters, other first responders, health-care workers and others, including teachers, who hold what are considered essential jobs.
Underlying this research are previous scientific findings that PFAS at high enough concentrations in people have been documented to weaken immune systems’ resistance to disease. Research has also shown the PFAS compounds can suppress humans’ response to other vaccines.
