Research Discovery | New Mexico

New research shows shocking levels PFA In the blood of people living or working near U.S. Air Force Base, responsible for contaminating drinking water with high levels of dangerous “forever chemicals” is a new kind of State Regulatory Report Found it.

People living and working near Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County are high enough to improve health problems – about 10 times higher than those in the area who do not work in contaminated areas. Pollution stems from a PFA-filled firefighting foam used by the military nationwide, and high levels of compound types in participants’ blood are also commonly used in the foam.

“The result is a heartbreak that gets stuck,” James Kenney said. New Mexico Secretary of the Ministry of Environment. “Evidence of damage caused by the U.S. Air Force to neighbouring countries is a call for an immediate solution to its long-term, neglected, toxic PFA plume that continues to be exposed to families in Curry County.”

PFAS is a category of approximately 15,000 compounds used to make the product resistant to water, stains and grease. These chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, reduced immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease, and a range of other serious health problems. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not collapse naturally in the environment.

PFA is a common ingredient in firefighting foam and the military is gradually phased out as high toxic substances are widely contaminated by water and surrounding environment There are more than 700 bases nationwide. However, blood levels of nearby residents were not monitored regularly.

New Mexico is prosecuting the Air Force to force it to resolve pollution in the region faster and more thoroughly. It has poisoned at least 100 private wells and provided public wells for Clovis, a city of nearly 40,000 people.

The levels found in surface water are about 27,000 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water limit and contaminated water is used on farmland, raising questions about the safety of these products. In 2018, local dairy farmers were forced to euthanize about 3,500 cows that contaminated milk.

“What’s going on in Curry County, New Mexico can happen in any town in the U.S., so we should all focus on your water and family,” Kenny said.

Of the 628 blood samples tested, about 99% of PFA had PFA, but the four most commonly detected compounds were compounds commonly used in firefighting foams.

Although the U.S. government estimates that 99% of people contain PFA in their blood, people who live and work in plume areas generally show higher levels. Nationally, the highest level of PFAS blood levels is about 26%.

People living or working in plume areas show that PFHXs are the levels of common PFA compounds used in foams, which are more than three times the U.S. average.

The Air Force said it did not review the data, but stressed that it is taking several steps to address pollution, including installing a water treatment system.

David Andrews, chief science officer for the Environmental Working Group nonprofit, said levels in the blood were similar to several other areas contaminated by firefighting foams, which tracked bubbles and military pollution. He added that the levels in the blood have attracted attention.

“There are certainly higher concentrations and have a higher health impact,” Andrews said. Andrews added that people with higher levels should talk to their doctors and consult the National Academy of Sciences’ health risk guidelines for elevated blood levels in PFAS.