The drinking water at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas contains high levels of harmful chemicals, raising health concerns for soldiers stationed there.
Kellen McGovern Jones reports for The Dallas Express.
In short:
- Dyess AFB’s drinking water contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), chemicals linked to cancer.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards set in 2024 reveal that PFAS levels in the base's water exceed the regulatory limits.
- The military base may rely on external sources for water testing, creating uncertainty about the contamination's origin.
Key quote:
“This means everybody drinking that water is drinking water with PFAS concentrations significantly above levels that the EPA have decreed are the maximum allowable in drinking water, and are likely to cause adverse health effects at those concentrations when drunk over a lifetime.”
— Dr. Graham Peaslee, physicist at Notre Dame University
Why this matters:
Prolonged exposure to high PFAS levels can lead to serious health problems, including cancer. The unclear testing procedures at Dyess AFB may leave soldiers and their families vulnerable to long-term health risks.
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