A recent report reveals that persistent PFAS chemicals, linked to various health risks, are widespread across U.S. military sites with no definitive clean-up plan in place.
Sachi Kitajima Mulkey reports for Grist.
In short:
- The Department of Defense acknowledges that PFAS contamination affects 80% of its sites, posing significant environmental and health challenges.
- Newly enforced EPA regulations aim to limit PFAS exposure, but remediation efforts are complicated and slow.
- Advocacy efforts, like those led by Tony Spaniola, stress the urgency for more effective and immediate clean-up actions.
Key quote:
"The heart of the issue is, how quickly are you going to clean it up, and what actions are you going to take in the interim to make sure people aren’t exposed?"
— Tony Spaniola, co-founder of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network
Why this matters:
Often dubbed "forever chemicals" due to their resistance to natural degradation, PFAS are linked to a range of health risks including cancer, liver damage, and immune system disruption. These chemicals have been integral to firefighting foams used in training and emergency responses at military bases, leading to widespread contamination of groundwater and soils. Recent regulations and the classification of certain PFAS as hazardous substances mark progress, yet the pace of clean-up remains a pressing concern for affected residents.
