With summer approaching, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommends Michigan residents and visitors avoid foam on Michigan lakes, rivers, streams and other surface waters.

Foam can form on any body of water. It can be white, off-white or brown; have an earthy or fishy scent; and pile up in bays, eddies, dams or other river barriers, the MDHHS advised in a news release.

Sometimes foam can contain harmful chemicals or bacteria. This can include high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Some studies have found that high exposure to some PFAS is linked to high cholesterol and liver damage, among other health effects.

If you touch any foam, rinse off or bathe as soon as possible. This is especially true if the water is suspected to be contaminated with

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