Great Lakes Now

Heat waves and cold snaps: Study finds the Great Lakes have entered an era of extremes

6 min read

Heat waves and cold snaps: Study finds the Great Lakes have entered an era of extremes

The Great Lakes, like the rest of the world, are dealing with a phenomenon of global heating caused mostly by fossil fuel emissions. In an innovative new study from the University of Michigan, the data reveals it’s not just rising average temperatures we need to worry about. Looking back at lake surface temperatures (LST) over forty years, researchers found the Great Lakes have entered a new era of temperature extremes. 

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Great Lakes Now

New study correlates unexplained frequent miscarriages to PFAS exposure

3 min read

New study correlates unexplained frequent miscarriages to PFAS exposure

A new study published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, found a correlation between certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, there is often no found cause for more than half the cases of unexplained pregnancy loss. According to researchers in the study, this lack of understanding “poses significant challenges to clinical management and contributes to heightened psychological burden among patients.”

The director of the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute at Northeastern University, Phil Brown, told Newsweek in a recent interview: “We already know that PFAS are associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, reproductive toxicity, preeclampsia, decreased fertility and single occurrence of miscarriage.”

In May, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced his intention to rescind PFAS limits that were put in place during the last administration.

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Great Lakes Now

Chicago’s “Quantum Prairie” Promises New Era of Great Lakes Technology and Water Use

12 min read

Chicago’s “Quantum Prairie” Promises New Era of Great Lakes Technology and Water Use

By Christiana Freitag, Circle of Blue

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

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Great Lakes Now Michigan

How Michigan’s Inland Fish Farmers Cultivate a Sustainable Future for the Great Lakes

7 min read

How Michigan’s Inland Fish Farmers Cultivate a Sustainable Future for the Great Lakes

Despite being surrounded by the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, Michigan imports the vast majority of its seafood, between 65% and 90%, according to Michigan Sea Grant.

As global aquaculture has grown to meet increasing demand for protein, a small but determined group of inland fish farmers in the Great Lakes region are working to build a more sustainable, local supply.

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