What effect do environmental pollutants have on our health, such as the risk of developing cancer? That’s the question MI-CARES wants to answer. Michiganders, if you are between the ages of 25-44, we need your help.
MI-CARES, or the Michigan Cancer and Research in the Environment Study, is a statewide study to understand the effects of environmental exposures (i.e., pollutants) on our health, including the risk of developing cancer. The study is motivated by the history of toxic environmental exposures and injustice in Michigan, such as PBB contamination in the 1970s, lead and Flint’s water crisis, the dioxane plume in Ann Arbor, urban oil refineries and industrial pollution in Detroit, and more recently, widespread PFAS exposure. Michiganders deserve to know how these exposures are impacting their health.
As a part of the study, we aim to enroll at least 100,000 Michiganders (ages 25-44) primarily in areas identified as “hotspots” of environmental injustice, as well as throughout the whole state of Michigan. Results from this study will help improve Michiganders’ health and inform policy to reduce environmental injustice and hazardous exposures.
If you are interested in learning more about MI-CARES, please visit our website: www.micares.health.