MDHHS seeks Kalamazoo, Portage, and Texas Township residents to participate in MiChEM program

LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is asking residents of the cities of Kalamazoo and Portage along with Texas Township to join the Michigan Chemical Exposure Monitoring program.

The MiChEM program started in 2022 and is an ongoing statewide effort to gather data on the amount of chemicals in the blood and urine of Michigan residents, including lead and PFAS.

Fifty different areas of the state were randomly selected to represent the state as a whole. Over the next few weeks, households in Kalamazoo, Portage and Texas Township will receive program invitations. Any adult who receives a MiChEM invitation in the mail from MDHHS can follow the steps to sign up.

The MiChEM team will be in the area from December 8th through the 12th. Appointments are on a first come, first served basis. Households that received an invitation or participated before can register again.

The MiChEM team will only be in each area for a short time and encourages households to register as soon as possible.

One adult will be randomly selected to participate from each registered household. Taking part in this program is completely free. Participants will receive their individual lab results. As a thank you for their time, participants will get a $75 gift card.

People who are randomly selected to participate will take a survey. They will also be asked to give blood and urine samples. These samples will then be analyzed for certain chemicals at the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories.

People can come in contact with chemicals in what they eat and drink, in products they use, at work and in air, soil and water. By gathering data across Michigan over time, MDHHS can see trends in how residents come in contact with chemicals. MDHHS can look at trends in the data to determine the best actions to take to reduce exposure. These actions can include creating programs, improving laws related to chemical use and studying sources and health effects of chemical exposures.

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/DEHBio.