Michigan Radio's "The Environment Report" has just wrapped up a week-long series called Michigan's Silent Poison.
Reporter Rebecca Williams worked in partnership with the Center for Public Integrity and the public radio show Reveal to explore the problem of arsenic in well water.
Williams said Michigan has a serious problem with arsenic in private wells that can lead to major health issues.
Public water supplies have federal limits to regulate arsenic levels in water, however, private wells are not regulated.
The Thumb region in Michigan has the largest problem with high arsenic levels in private wells. Levels are as high as 20 times more than the federal accepted limit for arsenic in public water.
During the series Michigan’s Silent Poison, Williams made efforts to talk with someone from the Michigan Department of Community Health, but no one was made available. After the series aired, the Department said they would make someone available to speak.
Jennifer Gray is a toxicologist with the Michigan Department of Community Health. She answered some of the questions on Stateside today.
*Listen to full interview above.
