U.S. Senator Gary Peters chaired a panel on hazardous chemicals known as PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — that can contaminate the air, water and soil and have significant adverse effects on human health. The panel, held at the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building on campus, included federal and state officials as well as Cheryl Murphy, the director of the Center for PFAS Research at MSU.
Members of the Michigan community were present as well to testify how they've been impacted by PFAS contamination. One of the speakers from the community included retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Craig minor, who testified that both his spleen and liver had been enlarged due to PFAS exposure.
Cheryl Murphy served as a speaker during the PFAS hearing held by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee
Because this PFAS issue is not only pervasive in Michigan communities, but also throughout the U.S. and the world, and is a problem that effects multiple aspects of our daily lives, we at MSU in the true spirit of the first land grant institution sought to see how we could respond to this emerging crisis.Cheryl Murphy on PFAS as a critical health issue to our communities
The full hearing can be viewed on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs website. You can listen to Dr. Murphy starting at 02:05:17.