State regulatory testing found blood PFAS concentrations much higher in people who lived or worked near Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County, about ten times higher than nearby residents not in the contaminated zone. The contamination stems from PFAS-laden firefighting foam used by the military, and the compounds in participants' blood matched those used in that foam. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease and other serious health problems. The military is phasing out PFAS foam, but blood monitoring of nearby residents is uncommon. New Mexico is suing the Air Force and reports at least 100 private wells and a public well for Clovis were poisoned.
New research shows alarming levels of Pfas in the blood of people living or working near a US air force base responsible for polluting drinking water with high levels of the dangerous forever chemicals, a new state regulatory report has found. The levels are high enough in those who lived and worked near the Cannon air force base in Curry county to raise health concerns about 10 times above the levels of those in the region who did not work in the contaminated zone.
Pfas are a common ingredient in firefighting foam, and the military is in the process of phasing it out because the highly toxic substance has widely contaminated water and the environment around more than 700 bases nationwide. However, blood levels of nearby residents are not regularly monitored. The state of New Mexico is suing the air force to compel it to more quickly and thoroughly address its pollution in the region.
#pfas #cannon-air-force-base #firefighting-foam-contamination #drinking-water-pollution #public-health
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