Join our brand new verified AMN Telegram channel and get important news uncensored. Before commenting, please review our comment policy. Veterans stationed at these bases may have been exposed to a number of toxic substances through contaminated water, which may have led to serious health effects. Until recently, PFAS contaminated the drinking water of scores of military bases, and many communities near these installations continue to drink contaminated water. The base permanently closed inJune 1993, as part of a majorU.S.military realignment following the conclusion of the Cold War with theSoviet Union. Both . The couples son, with whom Arvos wife was pregnant while living at Wurtsmith, was born with significant hearing loss. In mid-September the DOD released shocking new figures that identify the scale of PFAS contamination in 95 installations from 35 states and Puerto Rico. He added, however, that the DoD is not the sole source of widespread PFAS and the response to eliminating these substances from wells and groundwater must be done by communities and corporations that caused the problems, as well as the federal government. The harmful, hard-to-eliminate toxins. Tests of the soil revealed PFAS levels at 98,000 parts per billion. I will tell you up front, we know there's probably holes in the data," he said. The data released this week by the military shows levels for five kinds of PFAS compounds at what Scott Faber, vice-president of government affairs for Environmental Working Group, characterized as extremely high levels, and he said they present a health threat to residents living nearby. Luke air force base said studies showed high levels of contaminants had affected drinking water for about 6,000 people Associated Press Fri 26 Feb 2021 11.39 EST Last modified on Wed 5 Jan 2022 10 . They deserve answers, she said. PFAS chemicals are linked to birth defects, infertility, developmental delays and some cancers. In a successful case, you may be able to receive compensation for the following: In most cases, your lawsuit would be filed against the company that manufactured the firefighting foam believed to be the source of your PFAS exposure; you would not be suing the U.S. military. To date, the Air Force has sampled more than 500 drinking water wells for PFAS and installed 220 whole-house drinking water treatment systems on affected wells on and around the former base. In 2003-04, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and the U.S. Air Force, conducted an investigation to determine the age of ground water in the shallow, contaminated part of the aquifer and in the deep production zone beneath the Base. In 1983, investigations had shown soil and water contamination with degreasers and JP-4 jet fuel, and in 1990 . Those groundwater sites will be added to the departments long list of environmental cleanup responsibilities it has at each of its more than 2,900 facilities around the world, and will prioritize that cleanup based on risk. Someindependent studiessuggest 1 ppt or lower as a safe level of exposure, which is endorsed by EWG. While he could not say how many military personnel and their families live in communities where the municipal water supply or well water is contaminated with PFAS, he added that, in those cases, the Pentagon plans to be part of the solution. While the EPA did not make the guidelines enforceable, DoD decided to test all of its locations and work toward complying with the new standards. PFAS chemicals have been detected in the drinking water of19 million Americans in 49 states, and unreleased EPA data show that up to110 millionpeople may have PFAS-contaminated drinking water. TCE levels were found at a high of 46,800 parts per billion at one on-base monitoring well in the late 1970s. Toxic chemicals contaminate Cape Cod drinking water amid reports of seemingly inexplicable illnesses. Theres a hint in the shorthand for the properties of some PFAS, which is PBT: persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. EWG has found 28 bases with PFAS in drinking water at levels above those set by some state regulators. It's 450,000 people. Contact her at ccruz@hawaiipublicradio.org. In New Mexico, the Air Force recognized in 1999 that jet fuel had contaminated groundwater below Kirtland Air Force Base and surrounding neighborhoods. McClellan Air Force Base (Ground Water Contamination) Norton Air Force Base (Landfill 2) March Air Force Base; Travis Air Force Base; Fort Ord; . But to fall foul of the worst effects of PFOS or PFOA, you would need to be exposed for a sustained period of time to pretty high concentrations of the substances. They sit at the interfaces between water and particles, water and biota, they can transfer to the atmosphere and theyre so abundant they cycle around the wider environment, and thats the problem weve got.. Now we just have to step up and do the right thing.. It costs nothing to speak to one of the attorneys we work with, and youre never obligated to take legal action just because you talked to someone about your rights. PFAS, which is an umbrella term for a group of manmade chemicals that includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), are often referred to as forever chemicals. This is because PFAS hardly ever break down in the environment and can accumulate, remain and persist in the body particularly the bloodstream, liver and kidneys for decades. They have also been linked to low birthweight, birth defects, delayed development and newborn deaths in laboratory animals. Congress must do more to accelerate the cleanup of legacy PFAS contamination. I think it's going to be bigger than that really. The Air Force has numerous initiatives ongoing towards protecting people from exposure to PFOS and PFOA in drinking water at levels above EPA's lifetime health advisories. Catherine Cruz is the host of The Conversation. A system that breaks down so-called forever chemicals with extreme heat and pressure will be tested at two US Air Force bases and a Navy base, The 3D molecular structure of perfluorobutanoic acid, a type of PFAS forever chemicalShutterstock/Sergei Shimanovich, The 3D molecular structure of perfluorobutanoic acid, a type of PFAS forever chemical. Many chemicals contaminated the waters such as arsenic and lead. PFAS chemicals are used in industry and consumer products such as food packaging, commercial household products, stain- and water-repellent fabrics, non-stick cookware, polishes, waxes and paint. The tests will be carried out in contaminated groundwater on two Air Force bases and a Navy baseas part of a wider search for technologies that can break down the long-lasting molecules. From benzene exposures from the same groundwater contamination beneath the base, there exists an increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia, a type of bone marrow cancer, the report found. Now, the community is thriving. When you work with veterans, they and their families have made the ultimate sacrifices for our country. On Wednesday, environmental advocates from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) revealed that 90 more current and former Army and Army National Guard installations had levels of ground or drinking water contamination than previously indicated. Cancer. Langley Air Force Base/NASA Langley Research Center 159. PFAS contaminate the blood of every American and have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer and harm to the reproductive and immune systems. Its estimated that, given the widespread use of PFAS and the ubiquitous presence of some of them in the environment, almost everyone on the planet has PFAS in their blood at some level. It's equally as important, I think, for us to recognize that we have a responsibility for the communities that surround our installations," McMahon said. Their water's been poisoned by PFAS, forever chemicals from one of the military bases on Okinawa," said Jon Mitchell, a journalist originally from Wales who lives in Japan. Other sources include landfills, paper mills, wastewater treatment works, land spread with sewage sludge, runoff from urban areas, industries that involve textile waterproofing, metal finishing and plating, carpet and furniture production, paint, refrigerators and cleaning products. "This is a national issue, and it has to have a national solution. If you lived on a military base and developed cancer or thyroid disease, its possible that your illnessmay have been caused by toxic chemicals in your drinking water. Flint, Michigan is no longer the only American city synonymous with contaminated drinking . All rights reserved. Today, Teflon-like compounds called PFAS are found in the blood of almost all Americans. "It's outrageous that the Defense Department is now fighting efforts to address a contamination crisis they helped create.". Through FOIAs, EWG has discovered that many of the highest PFAS detections in the nation have been found on or near military installations. It also is tasked with finding a PFAS-free firefighting foam or funding the development of one. The claims, stemming from contamination at the Victorville base from the 1970s through the early 1990s, have been submitted to the Air Force's Judge Advocate General's Corps by the Military . All rights reserved. The Maj. Richard Star Act would eliminate the dollar-for-dollar offset on retirement pay that combat-disabled vets with less Capt. I dont think any of us vets will still be here when they finally do something.. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of about 9,000 chemicals used across dozens of industries to make products resistant to water, stains and heat. The human-made chemicals are in your blood, your clothes, your cosmetics. Little is known about most PFAS because, as The Environment Agencys former chief scientist put it, few PFAS have been subject to extensive testing so information about their hazardous properties is sparse. All rights reserved. Protect your health. Thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism), Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis, Texas, Seymour Johnson Air Force base, North Carolina, Wurtsmith Air Force base (Oscoda), Michigan, Past and future medical expenses, including prescription costs, surgery, medical treatments and doctors visits, Loss of marital benefits (care, comfort, sex, etc. Former England Air Force Base near Alexandria, Louisiana is the most contaminated place on our nationwide tour and perhaps, anywhere on earth, with deadly PFAS found in the groundwater at 10,970,000 ppt. Along with the details of your situation, if possible please include when you lived at/near each military base. However, the water system on the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was contaminated with PFAS, a group of dangerous chemicals, as a result of military firefighters using aqueous film-forming foam, commonly known as AFFF. "We really hope by screening this documentary in Hawaii, that people here will be able to understand that they are not alone, that this contamination has occurred in Okinawa, and hopefully, people will be able to draw some similarities. Thats why most PFAS health scandals in the US and Europe have been related to contaminated drinking water supplies. Elmendorf Air Force Base water contamination may have caused health risks such as neurological disorders in veterans who served on the base and even birth defects in children. In a March report provided to the House Armed Services Committee, the Pentagon for the first time publicly listed the full scope of the known contamination. As a "forever contaminant", PFAS can easily infiltrate the soil . Though AFFF is effective, it has led to widespread contamination around bases and airports, and Congress just mandated the military check for PFAS pollution at 700 facilities while earmarking $571m for cleanup, though observers say the cost will likely be much higher. It's going to be somewhere in that vicinity," Sullivan said. The Pentagons use of firefighting foam made with PFAS, also known as aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, has disproportionately exposed military service members and their families to PFAS pollution. "These chemicals build up. Know your environment. We have 1,500 people who have been tested with elevated levels in the Portsmouth area, who are anxious about their future and their childrens future. Americans are exposed to dozens of PFAS every day. The 24-million gallon leak at a. Related: Contaminated Drinking Water Found at 90 More Army, Guard Bases. For decades, military bases used a type of firefighting foam, known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), to put out fires in training exercises. At the direction of Defense Secretary Mark Esper in July, the Pentagon established a task force to study the chemicals -- found in aqueous firefighting foam used on military installations -- and the potential impact they have on personnel and the environment. Cardiff University analysed the livers of otters across England and Wales and found PFAS in all 50 otters sampled, with 12 different types of PFAS found in 80% of the animals. Both were eventually banned or had their uses restricted under various European and international laws, but being forever chemicals, they have not gone away. In more than a dozen other states, the Air Force has acknowledged contaminating drinking water in communities close to its bases. These forever chemicals pollute water, dont break down, and remain in the environment and people for decades. Once your attorney has enough information to move forward with a case, he or she will draft a document known as a complaint that outlines the company or companies you are suing, how you were exposed to PFAS, the medical condition that developed as a result of the exposure and the monetary damages you are seeking. Most vets have a saying, Theyll deny and deny until you die,' he said. "One of the things we want to do as part of this task force is establishing and improving transparency, the ability to put data out there so it's easily accessible," he said. The ensuing lawsuit, which led to DuPont settling 3,500 personal injury cases for $670.1m (555m), was made famous by the Mark Ruffalo film Dark Waters. Suite 1000 So you just dont do the study., U.S.Rep.Dan Kildee, a Flint Democrat, said in a statement the new ATSDR report confirmed what many veterans serving at Wurtsmith feared that during their service they were exposed to dangerous chemicals in their drinking water., Its the Air Forces responsibility to make sure those exposed to these harmful chemicals have access to the health care they need. During a hearing earlier this year, DoD officials said the cost of the cleanup may be as high as $2 billion. Surface water contamination includes strong evidence of deicing compounds in Cooley Brook, which discharges into . They have been detected in air, water, soils, sediments, and in rain at levels that would be considered unsafe in drinking . Clean beauty in 2023 is one of the fastest growing categories in the personal care space, so you may want to give or hope to get clean fragrance this Valentines Day. The levels of PFAS detected at both McChord AFB and Fort Lewis were well above the Environmental Protection Agencys lifetime health advisory of 70 parts per trillion, or ppt. The spill, estimated at 24 million gallons, was the largest underground toxic spill in US history AR CN EN ES FR IT TR Description: These chemicals cause a variety of really, really dangerous health effects. Public interest science has only just begun to wrap its head around PFOS and PFOA, decades after they were first produced, and so there is little chance it will ever catch up with manufacturers, who can tweak an existing molecule, rename it, and have it on the market in a fraction of the time it takes to establish a body of evidence to demonstrate whether or not it needs regulating. Wurtsmith veterans, or their family members, who have questions about potential exposures to TCE and benzene in base drinking water in the 1970s can call District Health Department No. . In South Carolina, groundwater contamination has been found at Shaw, as well as at the old Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, the Charleston joint military base and the the National Guard's McEntire air base southeast of Columbia, according to Department of Defense reports. PFAS have been detected in even the remotest parts of the globe, from the Arctic to Antarctica. In this June 29, 2017 photo made available by the U.S. Air Force, an F-15 fighter plane taxis back to the hangar at Kadena Air Base, Japan. ATSDRs new conclusions need to trigger a presumptive service connection, Arvo said aVeterans Administrationdetermination that certain disabilities were caused by military service, for which veterans can be awarded disability compensation. In the early 1980s, the Air Force conducted its own animal studies on AFFF, and in the early 2000s, the maker of the fluorinated chemical PFOS, the main ingredient in AFFF, exited the market. However, two widely used problematic substances perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have been scrutinised following a number of major pollution incidents in the US, Australia and Europe, linked to chemicals manufacturing plants and contamination from PFAS-laden firefighting foams. In 1997, the base, amid redevelopment, connected to. Groundwater in Alexandria, Louisiana near the shuttered England Air Force Base was found to contain 10,900 ug/l of PFOS and PFOA. Add to this the minefield of consumer products laden with PFAS, the existing load in the environment, while at the same time more PFAS are being manufactured and created, and it is hard to imagine how at least low-level exposure could be avoided. 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