A significant spill of firefighting foam at the Brunswick Executive Airport has released alarmingly high levels of toxic PFAS chemicals, sparking concerns about potential long-term health and environmental impacts.
Penelope Overton reports for the Portland Press Herald.
In short:
- The spill at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station released billions of parts per trillion of PFAS chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA.
- Scientists criticize Maine DEP for downplaying the severity by using misleading measurement units in public updates.
- State officials plan to test some, but not all, private wells in the area despite known historical contamination issues.
Key quote:
"I don’t want to be an alarmist, but I’d be scared if I lived there … I’ve been working in this field for a long time and I’ve never seen numbers like these."
— Gail Carlson, head of Colby College’s Buck Lab for Climate and Environment
Why this matters:
PFAS chemicals, known as "forever chemicals," persist in the environment and are linked to severe health issues, including cancer. The ongoing contamination and inadequate response could threaten the safety of local communities for years to come.
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