See www.militarypoisons.org for more recent articles by Pat Elder.
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Small Naval Facility in Southern Maryland
Causes Massive PFAS Contamination Practice exercises using fire fighting foam are to blame Navy says it discontinued the practice in the 1990's. By Pat Elder April 15, 2021 The Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Pax River) and the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) have reported that groundwater at Pax River’s Webster Outlying Field in St. Inigoes, MD contains 84,757 parts per trillion (ppt) of Perfluoro octane sulfonic acid, (PFOS). The toxins were detected at Building 8076 also known as Fire Station 3. The level of toxicity is 1,200 times the 70 ppt federal guideline. The chemicals are linked to a host of cancers, fetal abnormalities, and childhood diseases. More.
The Big Lie in Vermont
Air National Guard gives misinformation to Vermont Senate Committee March 16, 2021 By Pat Elder, Military Poisons and the Vermont PFAS and Military Poisons Coalition I sat in on the 3/12/21 hearing of the Vermont Senate Health and Welfare Committee concerning S.20--An act relating to restrictions on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other chemicals of concern in consumer products. The bill states, “A person, municipality, or State agency shall not discharge or otherwise use for training purposes class B firefighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS.” The Vermont Air National Guard apparently told Vermont lawmakers that they no longer use PFAS in fire-fighting foams. The record shows, however, it is still used in Vermont and across the country. See 20:00- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtQUzt2e_hM In theory, National Guard units are under the dual control of the state governments and the federal government, but it doesn’t work that way. The federal government is free to contaminate Vermont’s environment with no oversight, although these proceedings suggest otherwise. More Combating Military Poisons and Valuing Water
Webinar planned for March 21, 2021 On Sunday, March 21st--the day before World Water Day--we are offering a webinar to introduce people to our newly designed website—Military Poisons—which will expose the connections between water, food, and health to military PFAS contamination. The webinar will be one-hour: 2 PM-PST, 3 PM-MST, 4 PM-CST, or 5 PM-EST. Register in advance for this program at: https://bit.ly/MilitaryPoisons More
A Vermont Landfill is Contaminating
a Canadian Lake with PFAS Pat Elder March 1, 2021 Raised black lesions observed in 30 percent of the brown Bullhead collected from two sites in Lake Memphremagog from 2014 through 2017 have been identified as malignant melanoma. Newport Dispatch
I’ll examine this international controversy and the threat to public health caused by PFAS from a landfill’s leachate. I’ll look at drinking water contamination and how PFAS bio-accumulates in fish. Finally, I’ll interview Henry Coe, a Vermont environmentalist who understands the history of this tragedy and the dangers inherent in disposing PFAS into surface waters. More Creech Air Force Base, Nevada has poisoned the region's environment
Pat Elder February 27, 2021 Fifty deadly chemicals and PFAS above 20,000 ppt
contaminate the precious groundwater. More Three mattresses, two box springs,
two couches, and one chair PFAS runoff from a Vermont landfill is poisoning a lake shared with Canada, and the Winooski River By Pat Elder February 20, 2021 Burying these items in Vermont’s only landfill near the banks of Lake Mempremagog on the Canadian border is an environmental crime. More
Oklahoma and PFAS
The fox is in charge of the hen house Pat Elder February 11, 2021 Yesterday I received an email from an environmental activist in Oklahoma who asked me to review a bill that has been introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature that purports to regulate PFAS in the state. I remembered there were astronomical PFAS levels at Tinker Air Force Base, so I reviewed the engineer’s reports for him and wrote a brief critique of the bill which I’ve included here. More
Part 3 - Impact of PFAS Contamination
at the Burlington Air National Guard Base Storm water and wastewater are poisoning Vermont (part 3 of a 3-part series) By Pat Elder February 7, 2021 PFAS chemicals continue to pour out of the giant toxic subterranean sponge lurking under the Burlington base and it is likely to continue for hundreds of years unless the military stops it, and that’s not likely, considering the DOD’s abysmal record in these matters. More.
Part 1 - Impact of PFAS Contamination
at the Burlington Air National Guard Base A history of the burn pit (part 1 of a 3-part series) By Pat Elder January 22, 2021 This is the first article in a three-part series on the contamination caused by the use of per-and-poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the Burlington, Vermont Air National Guard base. This work is made possible through the generous support from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILFP-US Section), the WILPF Burlington Branch, and the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice - a project of the Peoples Action Institute.
The Burlington Vermont Air National Guard base has severely contaminated the Winooski River and the environment throughout the region with PFAS chemicals. The levels of the toxins in the Winooski suggest that fish in the river and in Lake Champlain may be unhealthy to eat. Here, I’ll explore the history of the burn pit and the contamination it has caused to the groundwater and surface water in Burlington. More. One Small Step on PFAS in Maryland
By Pat Elder January 11, 2021 There’s a bill making its way through the General Assembly, SB 195/HB 22 that would regulate the use of products containing PFAS, (per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances). The bill is a small step in the right direction toward protecting human health from the scourge of these chemicals, although it leaves most of the serious legislative work untouched.
This bill would prohibit using firefighting foams containing PFAS, although it doesn’t apply to federal installations that are required to use PFAS-laden foams. If foams containing PFAS are used, the chemicals must not be released into the environment. Additionally, PFAS foams are prohibited from being incinerated or buried in landfills; Rugs and carpets may not be sold that contain PFAS materials; and the bill bans the sale or use of food packaging containing PFAS. SB 195/HB 22 is lacking in several important respects. It nibbles at the periphery of the problem, although the Hogan administration is our first line of defense and it has failed us miserably. More Navy’s PFAS dog and pony show
falls flat in St. Mary’s County, MD Commissioners not entertained by Navy’s failure to release results of PFAS testing after five years. By Pat Elder December 14, 2020 This lengthy piece examines PFAS contamination by the Navy in one county in Maryland.
On December 8, 2020 David Steckler, the Remedial Project Manager of the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) addressed the St. Mary’s County Commissioners on the presence of per and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and in the adjacent St. Mary’s County community. Mr. Steckler’s presentation was an insult to the people of St. Mary’s County. Steckler set himself up for derision by attempting to defend a five-year lag in reporting PFAS test results by explaining that the results and data analysis require six weeks to complete. Commissioner Todd Morgan called him out on it. The commissioners challenged him on several points. More Local reporting desensitizes the public
on the threat of PFAS chemicals in our waters and seafood News story mirrors misrepresentations common nationally By Pat Elder December 4, 2020 This analysis is intended to provide clarity to the November 23, 2020 article in Southern Maryland News, “Environmental group finds ‘forever chemicals’ in seafood” by reporter Dan Belson. Many of the misrepresentations in this reporting commonly appear in publications across the country. Misreporting on PFAS stems from reporters' overreliance on information given to them by federal and state agencies, and their failure to check with independent experts on the veracity and relevance of the information provided to them by these agencies. More.
Maryland Report Misleads Public on PFAS Contamination in Oysters
State downplays threat to human health By Leila Marcovici, Esq. and Pat Elder November 16, 2020 In September 2020, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) released a report entitled “St. Mary’s River Pilot Study of PFAS Occurrence in Surface Water and Oysters.” (PFAS Pilot Study) that analyzed the levels of per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seawater and oysters. Specifically, the PFAS Pilot Study concluded that although PFAS is present in tidal waters of the St. Mary’s River, the concentrations are “significantly below risk based recreational use screening criteria and oyster consumption site-specific screening criteria.”
While the report makes these broad conclusions, the analytical methods and basis for the screening criteria used by MDE are questionable, resulting in a misleading of the public, and providing a deceptive and false sense of safety. More. Maryland, My Maryland!
Citizens must test the water at these bases for deadly PFAS By Pat Elder October 27, 2020 In September 2020, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) released a report entitled “St. Mary’s River Pilot Study of PFAS Occurrence in Surface Water and Oysters.” (PFAS Pilot Study) that analyzed the levels of per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seawater and oysters. Specifically, the PFAS Pilot Study concluded that although PFAS is present in tidal waters of the St. Mary’s River, the concentrations are “significantly below risk based recreational use screening criteria and oyster consumption site-specific screening criteria.”
While the report makes these broad conclusions, the analytical methods and basis for the screening criteria used by MDE are questionable, resulting in a misleading of the public, and providing a deceptive and false sense of safety. More The military is poisoning Maryland’s water and seafood.
Let’s test the water at these locations to see how bad it is. (1) Aberdeen Proving Ground; (2) Fort George G. Meade; (3) U.S. Naval Academy; (4) Chesapeake Beach Naval Research Laboratory; (5) Joint Base Andrews; (6) Indian Head Naval Surface Weapons Center; (7) Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Last month the Maryland Department of the Environment released a report that found no cause for alarm regarding the presence of PFAS in the St. Mary’s River and its oysters near a navy base that dumped the substances into the water during routine fire-fighting exercises. Now, it's apparent they're not telling us the whole story. The state can't be trusted any more than the military. More High PFAS Levels Found in Oysters and
the St. Mary’s River in Maryland Results from testing by watershed association and the state reveal contamination By Pat Elder October 9, 2020 Testing results released this week by the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) indicate high levels of PFAS toxicity in oysters and river water associated with the use of the chemicals at the Webster Outlying Field of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Webster Field) in St. Inigoes, Maryland. The base is located near the southern tip of St. Mary’s County, MD.
Results show oysters in the river by Church Point and in St. Inigoes Creek contained more than 1,000 parts per trillion (ppt) of the highly toxic chemicals. Oysters were analyzed by Eurofins, a world leader in PFAS testing. The analysis was performed on behalf of the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association and financially supported by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, PEER Meanwhile, data released by the MDE showed levels of PFAS at 13.45 ng/l (nanograms per liter, or parts per trillion) were found in the river water about 2,300 feet west of Webster Field. More Pentagon directs public attention to water as the primary source of PFAS contamination in people... while the primary route of exposure to PFAS is through the diet, especially seafood
By Pat Elder August 25, 2020 The DOD would prefer the public stays focused on drinking water as the primary pathway to human ingestion of PFAS. If the DOD is ever forced to clean up the mess it has made, it’s cheaper to remediate the drinking water than cleansing contaminated food.
Providing drinking water under the EPA’s 70 part per trillion (ppt) advisory still allows for people to consume dangerous levels of the toxins, considering that the nation’s top public health officials say 1 ppt in drinking water is likely to be dangerous. One seafood dinner may account for the ingestion of higher concentrations of PFAS than drinking water containing 70 ppt of the chemicals for 80 years. More The Coast Guard and PFAS
Michigan and Maryland provide insight into the agency’s reckless behavior By Pat Elder July 7, 2020 June 7, 2018 - Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) from the U.S. Coast Guard Station on the Selfridge Air National Guard base in Macomb County, Michigan accumulates in a stream leading to Lake St. Clair. More on Michigan and Maryland
Pence tied to firms incinerating military's PFAS
During the first half of 2015 - almost an eternity in American politics - Mike Pence faced a stronger than expected challenge to his Indiana Governor’s seat from Democratic challenger John Gregg, who raised more campaign cash than Pence during the first six months of the year. Analysts speculated that Pence might be in trouble for pushing an extraordinarily conservative social agenda. More.
Maryland to begin testing drinking water, Chesapeake Bay oysters for harmful ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/environment/bs-md-pfas-testing-20200611-ektyba7ylvc27cvjpf7ysavxky-story.html
By Scott Dance June 11, 2020 Baltimore Sun Modified version appears in Sunday’s edition (June 14, 2020) Pat Elder discovered the carcinogen PFAS behind his home which overlooks St. Inigoes River, a tributary of the St. Mary's River in southern Maryland. Maryland regulators say they plan to test drinking water and Chesapeake Bay oysters for the presence of what are known as “forever chemicals” — a step toward potential regulation of a class of harmful human-made substances that some fear are ubiquitous. More. Orange County, CA -
Sue the Military for PFAS Contamination! The red X shows the site of the old burn pit at the now closed Tustin Marine Corps Air Station. 350,000 gallons of jet fuel and other liquids were ignited and then extinguished with toxic foam containing PFAS on the banks of the Peters Canyon Channel, shown in blue.
Orange County, California water districts are considering a massive lawsuit over PFAS contamination of the water supply, although they’re not likely to target the largest polluter - the US military. Instead, they are expected to go after 3M and DuPont and a handful of other companies that manufacture PFAS products. The municipal water folks, who have been serving PFAS-tainted water to the public for years, are now faced with a $1 billion clean-up bill and they are looking for someone to pay for it. More. Okinawans Express Alarm and Frustration over U.S. Military’s Contamination of the Island’s Water Supply.
Groundwater used to irrigate crops present a danger to Okinawan health. The levels of PFAS should not exceed 70 ng/l (ppt) according to the EPA. Okinawans are frustrated because the U.S. military refuses to cooperate with Japanese investigators who want to gain access to U.S. bases. More.
From Consortium News - March 19, 2020
China Locked in Hybrid War with US The fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak puts Beijing and Washington on a collision course, writes Pepe Escobar. Chinese media are now openly asking questions and drawing a connection with the shutting down in August last year of the “unsafe” military bioweapons lab at Fort Detrick, the Military Games, and the Wuhan epidemic. Some of these questions had been asked– with no response – inside the U.S. itself. More. Cancer Cluster at Fort Detrick, MD
See the report, Statistics for Action Guide to State Cancer Profiles: Understanding Cancer Statistics for Community Action
A cancer cluster is a surprisingly large number of cancer cases in a specific location, within a defined period of time. You can use data from the State Cancer Profiles which include state- and county-level cancer incidence and mortality rates. If the goal is to understand how much cancer there is, and what specific types of cancer have occurred in a given area, cancer incidence rates are the best measure. Cancer incidence rates are a measure of disease occurrence—how much cancer occurred in a given year. The Military is Contaminating
California's Water, Soil, and Air The contamination is caused by Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, (PFAS). These deadly "forever chemicals," and a host of toxic chemicals used on military bases, threaten public health. The Pentagon's reckless use of fire-fighting foams containing cancer-causing agents has contaminated California's soil, groundwater, and surface water. The military has been poisoning California with these fluorinated surfacants for the last 50 years. They're covering it up and they're lying about it. The foam contains Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and 5,000 other chemicals. PFAS has been linked to a host of cancers and adverse developmental effects on the unborn. It contributes to a host of childhood diseases. This stuff will dwarf the impact of Agent Orange, DDT, and asbestos combined. Read more. PFAS Contamination: Telling Half the Story
The California Water Board and the Los Angeles Times fail to inform the public of the extent of PFAS Contamination. The California State Water Resources Control Board released data it has collected on PFAS contamination in wells across the state. Anyone reasonably informed about PFAS, who examined their raw data, would conclude that California water resources are in a terrible condition and that the health of hundreds of thousands, and perhaps, millions, of California residents are at risk by drinking the tap water. The data is nearly impossible to find on the water board's website while the Los Angeles Times offers the public about half of the available data on PFAS contamination statewide. More. What’s in your water?
Enter your zip code to find your water report and follow this guide to find out more. If you receive a water bill, you have likely been provided a hard copy of the list of contaminants in your water. In California it can be difficult to access your report online. Try using the state’s drinking water supply service area Lookup Tool. Pregnant women should not drink water containing PFAS.
The military is responsible for
most of the state's PFAS contamination 568 non-military wells were tested for PFOS/PFOA in California in 2019. A total of 19,228 parts per trillion (ppt) of the 14 kinds of PFAS tested were found in those 308 wells. 51% were either PFOS or PFOA while the remaining 49% were other varieties of PFAS.Meanwhile, five military bases in the state: China Lake Naval Air Station, Port Hueneme Naval Base Ventura County, Mather Air Force Base, Tustin USMC Air Station, and Travis Air Force Base have contaminated groundwater with 11,472,000 ppt, of PFOS + PFOA. If the roughly 50-50 split between PFOS/PFOA and other PFAS contaminants found in 308 wells tested throughout the state is any indication, these five installations my be responsible for PFAS contamination at levels above 20,000,000 ppt. although the chart here is all we've been told by the DOD. More than 50 military bases are known to have used PFAS in California. The Air Force practices fire drills using sprinkler systems in hangars to create a foam layer to coat expensive aircraft. The frequently tested systems can cover a 2-acre hangar with 17 feet of poisonous foam in 2 minutes with the cancer-causing foams. Why women were told
‘Don’t get pregnant at George Air Force Base’ Nearly 300 women who lived at or served at George have connected over Facebook to share their stories of horrible health issues which they believe are tied to their service at George Air Force Base. Ovarian cycts. Uterine tumors. Birth defects in their kids. Hysterectomies. Based on an informal poll, 94 women reported miscarriages among just the 300 who responded. The stories span three decades, from women who were there in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s until the base closed. These women are questioning: Was it the water? Many, including Denise Torri and Lisa McCrae, who believe they have been sickened because of their time spent at George, will be speaking at forums addressing the contamination in Berkeley and San Francisco on March 21 and 22, say their medical records have been purged. At George, among the 22 monitoring wells DoD sunk to test water sources, 14 came back with PFOA or PFOA readings that ranged between 87 and 5,396 parts per trillion above the 70 ppt limit. More. George AFB, known as the "Lejeune of the west" is a contaminated ghost town today. |
Bad News for Westminster (MD) and the Surrounding Region
The PFAS contamination recently reported in your drinking water is likely to be much worse than you’ve been led to believe. By Pat Elder February 2, 2021 Where’s the PFAS coming from in Westminster? The MDE should test the groundwater and the surface water in these locations to start finding out:
Blue - Carroll County Regional Airport Brown - Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant Red - Carroll County Public (Fire) Training Center Green - Northern Landfill More Part 2 - Impact of PFAS Contamination
at the Burlington Air National Guard Base The Winooski River is severely contaminated and fish are likely poisoned. (part 2 of a 3-part series) By Pat Elder January 28. 2021 This is the second article in a three-part series on the contamination caused by the use of per-and-poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the Burlington, Vermont Air National Guard base.
The “Salmon Hole” of the Winooski River near downtown Winooski is a famed Vermont fishing spot known for producing a wide range of fish species just minutes from the center of Burlington. The river provides a habitat for many species and provides excellent shoreline fishing opportunities. Landlocked Atlantic salmon, steelhead rainbow trout, walleye, smallmouth bass, rock bass, white perch, yellow perch, brown bullhead, bowfin, freshwater drum, fall fish, lake trout, brown trout, redhorse sucker and white sucker are frequently caught. Are the fish OK to eat? How much PFAS is in each species of fish, and how badly contaminated is the river? More Did PFAS Contribute to Senator Miller’s Cancer?
By Pat Elder January 18, 2021 I was saddened to hear of the passing of Maryland Senator Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
When I learned that the great senator had passed away due to complications arising from prostate cancer, I thought of the burn pit at the Chesapeake Beach Naval Research Laboratory - Chesapeake Bay Detachment just a mile and a half away from his home on the Bay. I wondered if this ongoing activity using PFAS firefighting foams had contributed to Senator Miller’s cancer. The National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics says there’s evidence from studies that elevated levels of PFOA and other PFAS chemicals may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer incidence and mortality. More Caveat Emptor - Let the Buyer Beware
The DOD is privatizing sewer systems nationwide to evade liability stemming from its indiscriminate use of PFAS chemicals. This case study from St. Mary’s County, MD provides lessons for communities across the country. Pat Elder December 29, 2020 See the 3,100 word article here.
In brief:
Chesapeake Blue Crab has high concentrations of PFBA - a substance associated with contracting severe Covid-19
US Navy is likely source of contamination By Pat Elder December 9, 2020 Thanks to Sharon Lerner for her essential writing on PFAS.
Lerner reports that a Danish study found that people with elevated levels of a compound called PFBA, (Per fluoro bu tanoic acid), were more than twice as likely to have a severe form of Covid-19. The research involved 323 patients infected with the coronavirus. A Maryland crab was recently found to contain high levels of the dangerous chemical. More Bad News for Chesapeake Bay Seafood Lovers
Rockfish, crabs, and oysters are highly contaminated with PFAS By Pat Elder November23, 2020 Testing done in October 2020 showed rockfish containing 23,100 parts per trillion (ppt) of a variety of per-and-poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) , crabs containing 6,650 ppt, and oysters having 2,070 ppt of the toxins. See the results here. The rockfish was caught in Cornfield Harbor in the Potomac River and the oyster and crab were collected from St. Inigoes Creek in Saint Mary’s County. Public health officials say people should not be consuming more than 1 part per trillion of these toxins per day. More
Do Not Eat the Fish
Seafood often contains high levels of toxic PFAS. Maryland - What’s in your fish? By Pat Elder November 9, 2020 A sign you won’t see in Maryland
PFAS (per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances) used in firefighting foams on military installations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have contaminated the seafood taken from these waters. The toxic foams have been allowed to seep into the ground and surface water to poison aquatic life. More Joint Base Andrews Contaminates
Maryland Rivers and Creeks with PFAS By Pat Elder October 20, 2020 The Air Force has contaminated the groundwater at Joint Base Andrews with 39,700 parts per trillion of PFAS chemicals according to a report released by the Air Force in May, 2018. This is not exactly “Breaking News” although few know about it.
The base pollutes the Patuxent and Potomac rivers. Groundwater from numerous sites on base where PFAS-laden foams were used move east toward the Patuxent as well as west toward the Potomac. Meanwhile, surface water from the base travels to Piscataway Creek, Cabin Branch Creek, Henson Creek, and Meetinghouse Branch, emptying waters to both rivers. Andrews, the “Home of Air Force 1” is the only base in the state known to poison both the Patuxent and the Potomac. PFAS may travel for miles. It contaminates fish and sickens people who consume it. Who knew? More NATO Poisons Fish in Germany
PFAS in firefighting foams is to blame By Pat Elder No to War - No to NATO September12, 2020 Throughout much of Europe, NATO military bases have used and carelessly discarded hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic fire-fighting foams containing a variety of PFAS chemicals during routine fire-fighting exercises. The aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) have been in use since the early 1970’s and have been allowed to seep into the ground to contaminate groundwater, soil, and surface water. The resulting pollution is responsible for a serious European public health crisis, although few are paying attention.
A German Brown Trout caught in Spanger Bach Creek, near Spangdahlem NATO Airbase, was found to contain 82 ug/kg (micrograms per kilo of fillet) of per - and poly fluoroalkyl substances, or PFOS. That news was published in 2015 and it barely attracted attention. 82 ug/kg is the same as 82,000 parts per trillion, (ppt). Public health scientists around the world have been warning people not to consume more than 1 ppt of the toxins daily. More. EPA to Start Experimental PFAS Burns
Tell your State to say NO to Trial Burns! Aug 26, 2020 National Action to Stop Experimental PFAS Burns! While the disposal of PFAS chemicals poses an unprecedented challenge, the rush to burn these chemicals is on despite no evidence they can be safely incinerated. Incineration of PFAS responds to the need for a disposal option, but instead of a cure, incineration threatens to trigger an unintended cascade of harm including contamination of local communities’ drinking water sources, soil contamination, and exposure to these extremely toxic chemicals by residents of host communities. More
Antietam Creek Revisited
Tests of water and fish show high levels of PFAS contamination; Maryland Department of the Environment questions whether levels pose a threat to human health. By Pat Elder August 13, 2020 Burnside’s Bridge - In 1862 Antietam Creek was the site
of the bloodiest battle during the American Civil War. Then, the creek ran with blood, today it runs with poison. Water recently collected by the Upper Potomac Riverkeeper from Antietam Creek contained 138.9 parts per trillion (ppt.) of toxic PFAS chemicals. PFAS, or per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances, are extraordinarily toxic, bio accumulative, and they never break down in nature. The chemicals are linked to a host of cancers and they threaten the unborn fetus. PFAS are extremely dangerous. The U.S Geological Survey analyzed PFAS levels in the blood plasma of Smallmouth Bass near the historic bridge. Some fish contained 574,000 ppt. of the toxins. Public health officials warn the public not to consume more than 1 ppt. per day, but anything goes in Maryland. See More. Sources of PFAS Incinerated
at Cohoes, NY Revealed The DOD shipped nearly 2 million pounds from 25 states; Private entities also delivered materials to be burned The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) has released information on the sources of the PFAS toxic materials incinerated at the Norlite plant at Cohoes, New York. Norlite burned two million pounds of the toxins before the operation was shut down by the state in late 2019.
The Department of Defense through the Defense Logistics Agency, (DLA) is rushing to incinerate its remaining supplies of fire-fighting foam and associated bulk materials containing highly fluorinated, toxic PFOS & PFOA chemicals. Incineration is incapable of completely breaking down the substances. Scientists argue the practice is “raining down a witch’s brew” of poisonous substances that are linked to a host of cancers. More Marylanders! Please sign this petition
Could you take a minute to send this petition to Ben Grumbles, Maryland’s Secretary of the Environment, asking him to provide oversight and ensure that the Chesapeake, our drinking water, and food are safe from PFAS contamination? More WSSC - Is our water OK to drink?
Testing by the Environmental Working Group has shown the presence of 17.8 parts per trillion of PFAS in suburban Maryland's drinking water.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, (WSSC), the water provider for 1.8 million residents in Maryland’s Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, is not being completely honest with its customers regarding the presence of PFAS chemicals in drinking water. More Maryland Plays Catch up on PFAS
Environment Secy Grumbles says it is a priority. We'll see. While most of the states have taken steps toward regulating drinking water for PFAS, Maryland has not acted until now. The Maryland Department of the Environment, (MDE) has been asleep at the switch under Secretary Ben Grumbles.
Sixteen military installations in Maryland are believed to have used the “forever chemicals” while several bases have contaminated the state’s aquifers and surface waters with massive amounts of the deadly substances. For instance, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory at Chesapeake Beach has contaminated local groundwater with PFAS chemicals at a staggering level of 241,000 parts per trillion. It’s front page news, although it doesn’t make it in the paper. More. PFAS Contamination of the Chesapeake Bay Region by the Navy
This article has two parts. The first examines how the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Pax River) used toxic firefighting foam in fire-fighting exercises near the beach at Hog Point for years that resulted in PFAS poisoning oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. The second part addresses the state’s response to recent citizen concerns regarding contamination by the Navy and plans by the Maryland Department of the Environment to test oysters near Pax River and its Webster Field Annex in St. Inigoes, Maryland. More.
The Patuxent River Series
The following series of seven articles has been instrumental in educating and organizing the Southern Maryland community to confront the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Station and the state of Maryland on PFAS contamination caused by the Navy over the last 50 years. More. The Army Contaminates Fort Ord Region with PFAS and Downplays Health Impacts
April 27, 2020 The Army has revealed that two highly toxic chemicals, PFOS and PFOA were recently found in the groundwater at the old Fort Ord, near Salinas, California at 560 parts per trillion, (ppt), which is 8 times higher than the EPA’s advisory level of 70 ppt. The chemicals are known to contribute to testicular, liver, breast, and kidney cancers, as well as a host of childhood diseases and abnormalities in the developing fetus.
Although the base closed 26 years ago, the presence of the “forever chemicals” at these levels provides a wake-up call to the public in the region that PFAS is present at harmful levels in the ground. More U.S. Military Contaminates Okinawa with Firefighting Foam (Again)
The US military foams Okinawa’s rivers with carcinogens again, this time on a massive scale. Top Marine says, “If it rains, it will subside.” Meanwhile, Japanese central government officials parrot DOD stance while Okinawans are powerless to stop the poisons. Read how this works. More.
PFAS Burned in Arkansas Despite Health Concerns
Arkansas ranks 50th as far as hunger and food insecurity is concerned. Its poverty rate is among the worst 5 in the country. It has the highest teen birth rate in the country, while the city of Arkadelphia’s median family income of $32,717 is half of the nation’s average. It’s poor and it not getting better, but they do have one thriving industry, thanks to the federal government. More.
Pentagon Reports 250 New Sites Are Contaminated with PFAS
DOD Task Force report contains inaccuracies and contradictions unreported by the media. The Pentagon now admits that 651 military sites are contaminated with per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances, (PFAS), a 62 percent increase from its last count of 401 sites in August, 2017. See the DOD’s latest addition of 250 contaminated locations organized in a logical fashion by our friends at the Environmental Working Group. Much More.
Leading German Peace Activist Calls out US Military on PFAS Contamination
Watch this 4-minute video from Kristine Karch, Co-Chair of the international network, No to war - no to NATO. She is a member of the coordinating group of the campaign "Stopp Air Base Ramstein." Kristine identifies many locations throughout Germany that have been contaminated with PFAS by the US military.
The Pentagon’s Task Force Progress Report released on March 13, 2020 has the audacity to suggest that DOD actions have satisfactorily addressed PFAS on military installations outside of the United States. Nothing could be further from the truth. The DOD has poisoned a variety of water sources in Germany, Japan, Guam, Diego Garcia, Honduras, and Belgium to name a few contaminated places. Tap Water at 28 Military Bases Tainted With ‘Forever Chemicals’ Above States’ Safety Standards
MARCH 23, 2020 Drinking water at more than two dozen U.S. military installations is contaminated with toxic fluorinated chemicals, or PFAS, at levels that exceed the standards set or proposed by a number of states, according to EWG’s analysis of Defense Department data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Among the most contaminated sites in EWG’s analysis are Fort Bragg, in North Carolina, the West Point Military Academy, in New York, and the Yuma Proving Ground, in Arizona. The complete list of sites is here. Youth considering enlistment should understand they'll be drinking poisoned water. PFAS Contamination Near George AFB Threatens Public Health
The groundwater in Victorville and throughout much of California is contaminated with PFAS, the “forever chemicals.” =
On September 10, 2018 the Lahontan Regional Water Board tested the well water of the home owned by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Culberton located at 18399 Shay Road in Victorville, California. The water was found to contain high levels of 25 separate PFAS chemicals, several that are known to be human carcinogens. Culberton’s home is a few hundred feet from the eastern boundary of the shuttered George Air Force Base. More. Pat Elder, in Honolulu on March 3, 2020 speaking on the state's poor track record on protecting human health from the PFAS epidemic. See his presentation here.
CNBC report breaks new ground
on how military bases poison local waters. Fresno's PFAS Contamination Problem
Fresno’s Southeast Surface Water Treatment Plant is located 7,500 feet from the former Fire Training Areas (FTA’s) used by the Fresno Air National Guard for 50 years - the same period the Air Force has been using carcinogenic fire-fighting foams containing per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances, (PFAS). One fire pit is located very close to the stormwater drainage area for the runway. Because the Air Force investigation (Final Site Inspection Report Air National Guard Phase II Regional Site Inspections for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Fresno Air National Guard Base Fresno, CA March, 2019) took place during the dry season, surface water was not present when samples were collected. In any case, there are no surface water screening criteria because of the absence of state or federal guidance levels.
Hitchcock couldn’t have written a better script. More. California lowers response level
for PFOS & PFOA in drinking water but much more needs to be done On February 6, 2020 the California State Water Resources Control Board lowered its "Response Level" to 10 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 40 ppt for PFOS. Under a new California law (Assembly Bill 756), if a water system exceeds the response levels for these carcinogens, the system is required to take the water source out of service or provide public notification within 30 days of the confirmed detection. Previously, the response level was 70 ppt for the total concentration of the two contaminants combined.
Defenders of this measure that regulates two varieties of PFAS say it is a modest, but useful first step to begin addressing the threat posed by more than 6,000 PFAS substances. For instance, water in Pleasanton and Burbank contains high levels of equally dangerous - yet unregulated Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid, (PFHxS). Let’s flip the legislative etch-a-sketch upside down, give it a good shake, and start all over. More. PFAS Action Act Fails to Protect Public Health
The Democratic leadership in the House and the nation’s leading environmental organizations have praised the PFAS Action Act, although the measure is a disaster for public health and the environment on several fronts. The bill passed the House of Representatives on January 10, 2020. The vote was 247-159, with 223 Democrats voting for the measure along with 24 Republicans.
Overwhelmingly positive media coverage of the legislation has focused on the long-overdue provision that would require the EPA to designate two organic compounds, PFOS and PFOA, as hazardous substances under the Superfund program. Such a designation would force the Pentagon to foot the bill for cleaning up hundreds of contaminated bases and surrounding communities in the U.S. It’s a relatively small step in the right direction. More What’s in your water, Pleasanton?
And how did it get there? The following article was submitted to the East Bay Express -
but never received a response. Brett Simpson’s article, The Coming National Water-Quality Crisis, (Jan. 14) did not fully examine the extent of PFAS contamination in Pleasanton’s water and failed to consider nearby military installations as a potential cause of PFAS contamination in the town’s water. The article says Pleasanton’s Well 8 was found to contain 108 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFAS. The water contained 250.75 ppt of the carcinogens, according to the California Water Board. More Where Cancer Begins
Beale Air Force Base is poisoning the environment Thousands of gallons of per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances, (PFAS) have polluted the groundwater, surface water, soils and the sewer systems in and around Beale Air Force Base. The extraordinarily powerful carcinogens, known as “forever chemicals” are present in firefighting foams the Air Force has used in routine firefighting training exercises for 40 years. The Air Force has known of the disastrous impact PFAS has on human health for almost as long, but it continues to use the substances. Beale has poisoned creeks and underground aquifers with the cancer-causing foams. Beale’s groundwater was found to contain a staggering 200,000 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFOS & PFOA, two of the deadliest types of PFAS. More. The bases in this graphic were shown to have these levels of PFOS/PFOA in their tap water.
The EPA has established a Lifetime Health Advisory of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water. The EPA doesn't regulate these carcinogens. Instead it advises people that they could become very ill if they drink it. Harvard Public health professionals say 1 ppt. is potentially dangerous. In addition, these bases were identified by the DOD to have "know or expected" releases of the highly carcinogenic substances: Concord, Coronado, Fresno ANG, Hunter's Point, Imperial Beach Lemoore Naval, Los Angeles AFB, Miramar, Moffett Field, North Highlands, Onizuka, Ontario, Oxnard, Point Mugu Sacramento Army, San Diego Naval, San Nicolas Island See: AFFF Report to Congress |
Data reported by the California State Water Board
show that drinking water sources for 7.5 million people
in California are poisoned with PFAS.
At least 74 water systems were found to have well water contaminated with the “forever chemicals.” The water systems conducted the tests between 2013 and 2019. The tests show the levels of carcinogens in municipal wells before possible treatment. See the raw data here.
The list below shows what was in the well water when it was tested, not necessarily what is coming out of taps now. You must determine that for yourself. The state of California is not doing for you.
Clean water is a big deal in California and the military has poisoned a lot of it. Use the search engine on this page to find the closest sources of military carcinogens to you. The current round of testing only covers a fraction of the municipal water wells in the state.
Water Provider Population PPT. of PFAS Closest Base(s)/Possible Source
Camp Pendleton (South) 39,400 820.8 Pendleton
City of Corona 155,896 578.4 3 M Plant, Corona
Cal-Water Service Company, Oroville 9,427 451.8 Chico
Cal-American Water Co – Suburban, Rosemont 111,768 404 Mather
City of Pleasanton 73,067 258.9 Parks, Livermore
Zone 7 Water Agency, Pleasanton, Livermore 40 235.4 Parks, Livermore
California Water Service, Visalia 135,923 225 Cal ANG - Visalia
Santa Clarita Water Division 120,900 197.5 Palmdale AF Plant 42
Sierra Army Depot, Herlong, Patton Village 1,500 150.5 Sierra Army Depot
City of Anaheim 450,000 132.1 ECD Analytical
More.
show that drinking water sources for 7.5 million people
in California are poisoned with PFAS.
At least 74 water systems were found to have well water contaminated with the “forever chemicals.” The water systems conducted the tests between 2013 and 2019. The tests show the levels of carcinogens in municipal wells before possible treatment. See the raw data here.
The list below shows what was in the well water when it was tested, not necessarily what is coming out of taps now. You must determine that for yourself. The state of California is not doing for you.
Clean water is a big deal in California and the military has poisoned a lot of it. Use the search engine on this page to find the closest sources of military carcinogens to you. The current round of testing only covers a fraction of the municipal water wells in the state.
Water Provider Population PPT. of PFAS Closest Base(s)/Possible Source
Camp Pendleton (South) 39,400 820.8 Pendleton
City of Corona 155,896 578.4 3 M Plant, Corona
Cal-Water Service Company, Oroville 9,427 451.8 Chico
Cal-American Water Co – Suburban, Rosemont 111,768 404 Mather
City of Pleasanton 73,067 258.9 Parks, Livermore
Zone 7 Water Agency, Pleasanton, Livermore 40 235.4 Parks, Livermore
California Water Service, Visalia 135,923 225 Cal ANG - Visalia
Santa Clarita Water Division 120,900 197.5 Palmdale AF Plant 42
Sierra Army Depot, Herlong, Patton Village 1,500 150.5 Sierra Army Depot
City of Anaheim 450,000 132.1 ECD Analytical
More.
The Million Parts per Trillion Tour - 2019
Pat Elder and his daughter Holly drove across the country to draw attention to the reckless behavior of the military as it continues to poison the waters in communities across the country. They billed their trip, “The Million Parts per Trillion Tour” because they stopped at eight extremely contaminated bases, all with more than a million parts per trillion (ppt) of deadly Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the groundwater. Pat and Holly worked with The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom-U.S. and Civilian Exposure from Camp Lejeune, NC.
https://www.civilianexposure.org/the-million-parts-per-trillion-tour-summary/
Pat Elder and his daughter Holly drove across the country to draw attention to the reckless behavior of the military as it continues to poison the waters in communities across the country. They billed their trip, “The Million Parts per Trillion Tour” because they stopped at eight extremely contaminated bases, all with more than a million parts per trillion (ppt) of deadly Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the groundwater. Pat and Holly worked with The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom-U.S. and Civilian Exposure from Camp Lejeune, NC.
https://www.civilianexposure.org/the-million-parts-per-trillion-tour-summary/
The Survey Monkey and the Dog and Pony Show
December 18, 2019
Restoration Advisory Boards, (RABs) are dog and pony military psy-ops programs orchestrated by the military branches to effectively mute local resistance to the military’s destruction of the environment. In the real world – the world outside of these despicable psychological operations of the US government against its citizens – the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines have poisoned communities across the country for several generations. Vulnerable people have been subjected to a heavy load of carcinogens in the water, soil, and air. The Pentagon is intent on continuing its criminal behavior, so it operates through the RAB’s to minimize potential liability and to quell citizen concerns.
December 18, 2019
Restoration Advisory Boards, (RABs) are dog and pony military psy-ops programs orchestrated by the military branches to effectively mute local resistance to the military’s destruction of the environment. In the real world – the world outside of these despicable psychological operations of the US government against its citizens – the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines have poisoned communities across the country for several generations. Vulnerable people have been subjected to a heavy load of carcinogens in the water, soil, and air. The Pentagon is intent on continuing its criminal behavior, so it operates through the RAB’s to minimize potential liability and to quell citizen concerns.
Dark Waters Tells Half the Story of PFAS Contamination
December 12, 2019
Dark Waters is the most important American film in a decade, although it squanders an opportunity to fully portray PFAS* contamination as the nationwide human health epidemic it has become. The film leaves out half of the story and that involves the military’s role.
*per- and poly fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) include PFOA, PFOS and 5,000 other harmful chemicals used in a variety of military and industrial applications.
Most viewers will walk away thinking they watched a movie that documents the true story of a relatively isolated case of DuPont contaminating the local soil and water of an unfortunate town, Parkersburg, West Virginia. Regardless, Dark Waters is a superior film. If you haven’t seen it, please do so.
Seeking Firefighting Solutions That Already Exist
December 1, 2019
Military researches environmentally friendly firefighting foams while viable alternatives exist – and are used worldwide.
A recent Department of Defense propaganda piece, Naval Research Lab Chemists Search for PFAS-Free Firefighting Foam continues to perpetuate the Pentagon’s false narrative that fluorine-free foams currently available on the market are an unsuitable alternative to the carcinogenic foams they currently use.
December 1, 2019
Military researches environmentally friendly firefighting foams while viable alternatives exist – and are used worldwide.
A recent Department of Defense propaganda piece, Naval Research Lab Chemists Search for PFAS-Free Firefighting Foam continues to perpetuate the Pentagon’s false narrative that fluorine-free foams currently available on the market are an unsuitable alternative to the carcinogenic foams they currently use.
Democrats Back Down From Battle With Defense Department over DOD
November 14, 2019
Back in July, the House of Representatives included an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to force the Environmental Protection Agency to designate all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) “as hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Superfund law. PFASs are known to threaten public health.The amendment, authored by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), would have forced the military — which has released these chemicals into the environment through routine fire-training exercises — to clean up PFAS-contaminated water and soil at more than 400 military bases and their surrounding communities in the U.S.
Now, however, the Democratic leadership is buckling to the demands of the Pentagon to strip the measure from the NDAA.
November 14, 2019
Back in July, the House of Representatives included an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to force the Environmental Protection Agency to designate all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) “as hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Superfund law. PFASs are known to threaten public health.The amendment, authored by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), would have forced the military — which has released these chemicals into the environment through routine fire-training exercises — to clean up PFAS-contaminated water and soil at more than 400 military bases and their surrounding communities in the U.S.
Now, however, the Democratic leadership is buckling to the demands of the Pentagon to strip the measure from the NDAA.
The U.S. Military is Poisoning Okinawa
November 12, 2019
In 1945 the Truman administration knew the Japanese government was trying to negotiate surrender through Moscow. The U.S. completely dominated Japan militarily by August of 1945 when it destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki with two bombs, thereby ending the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians and ruining the lives of millions.
Why bring it up now? Because 74 years later the Japanese are still trying to surrender, while the U.S. government continues to wage war.
November 12, 2019
In 1945 the Truman administration knew the Japanese government was trying to negotiate surrender through Moscow. The U.S. completely dominated Japan militarily by August of 1945 when it destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki with two bombs, thereby ending the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians and ruining the lives of millions.
Why bring it up now? Because 74 years later the Japanese are still trying to surrender, while the U.S. government continues to wage war.
Once an Air Force Base…
October 19, 2019
Norton Air Force Base (1942–1994) was located 2 miles east of downtown San Bernardino, California, in San Bernardino County. Lethal contamination at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California threatens human health 35 years after the base closed. Norton Air Force Base was a logistics depot and heavy-lift transport facility, something like a massive Amazon warehouse to shuttle weapons of war around the globe.
October 19, 2019
Norton Air Force Base (1942–1994) was located 2 miles east of downtown San Bernardino, California, in San Bernardino County. Lethal contamination at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California threatens human health 35 years after the base closed. Norton Air Force Base was a logistics depot and heavy-lift transport facility, something like a massive Amazon warehouse to shuttle weapons of war around the globe.
DOD Inspector General to Investigate PFAS Use in Military
October 18, 2019
Investigations, studies, reports, hearings and meetings —while Americans and others around the world continue being poisoned.
The DOD has been sickening us for 50 years with these chemicals while it has understood all along, its potentially devastating effect on human health.
The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Defense announced this week it will review the Pentagon’s history of Per- and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) that have leached into municipal drinking water wells near military bases across the country. The review will not examine the potential use of the carcinogens at 800 foreign US military bases...
The federal government’s focus should be on diagnosing the sick and taking care of them, stopping the flow of contaminants, and providing clean water. Sadly, the DOD continues to contaminate drinking water supplies while the EPA sits on its hands.
October 18, 2019
Investigations, studies, reports, hearings and meetings —while Americans and others around the world continue being poisoned.
The DOD has been sickening us for 50 years with these chemicals while it has understood all along, its potentially devastating effect on human health.
The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Defense announced this week it will review the Pentagon’s history of Per- and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) that have leached into municipal drinking water wells near military bases across the country. The review will not examine the potential use of the carcinogens at 800 foreign US military bases...
The federal government’s focus should be on diagnosing the sick and taking care of them, stopping the flow of contaminants, and providing clean water. Sadly, the DOD continues to contaminate drinking water supplies while the EPA sits on its hands.
The U.S. Military and Climate Change
On 18 January 2017, two B-2 bombers, accompanied by fifteen KC-135 refueling tankers made a 30-hour round-trip mission from Whiteman Air Force Base to Sirte, Libya to drop bombs in Libya. 5,615 miles = 9,000 Kilometers. Let’s use the Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator for this one mission involving 17 planes. The B-2’s and the KC-135’s burned 1,113,788 gallons of gasoline equivalent for this mission. That’s 4.2 Million Liters of gasoline equivalent. And all of that comes to 9,898 Metric Tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
We’ll have to plant 163,669 tree seedlings and wait ten years to pull that much carbon out of the air.
An Open Letter to Irish Officials and Media on PFAS Contamination
October 8, 2019, Limerick, Ireland
I am an American environmental researcher and I’ve had the honor and pleasure to visit your beautiful country over the last week. I participated in a conference in Limerick organized by World BEYOND War and the Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance. Rather than addressing the politics of that event, I want to draw your attention to a serious environmental issue.
With all due respect for Ireland, I want to leave you with a warning that Irish policies regarding the continued presence and use of PFAS chemicals lag behind much of the world, and this lack of regulation may be jeopardizing the health of the Irish people.
October 8, 2019, Limerick, Ireland
I am an American environmental researcher and I’ve had the honor and pleasure to visit your beautiful country over the last week. I participated in a conference in Limerick organized by World BEYOND War and the Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance. Rather than addressing the politics of that event, I want to draw your attention to a serious environmental issue.
With all due respect for Ireland, I want to leave you with a warning that Irish policies regarding the continued presence and use of PFAS chemicals lag behind much of the world, and this lack of regulation may be jeopardizing the health of the Irish people.
California Takes on PFAS Contamination While the Military is a Primary Source of the Pollution
September 18, 2019
Tests of municipal water wells in Riverside County reveal a cluster of PFOS/PFOA contamination near March Air Reserve Base. Meanwhile, the Pentagon releases heavily redacted data and survey maps depicting the contamination...
There was an earthquake in California on August 23, 2019, although the ground didn’t move, and few noticed. That was the day California ordered the state’s water systems to establish the nation’s lowest Notification Levels for dangerous Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Two of the deadliest PFAS are Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA). The Notification Level for PFOA has been lowered from 14 parts per trillion (ppt) to 5.1 ppt and the Notification Level for PFOS has been lowered from 13 ppt to 6.5 ppt. These are the lowest levels at which they can be reliably detected in drinking water using current technologies.
Effective January 1, 2020, water systems must notify local government if the limits are exceeded. The State Water Board recommends that water agencies also notify customers and the California Division of Drinking Water (DDW).
September 18, 2019
Tests of municipal water wells in Riverside County reveal a cluster of PFOS/PFOA contamination near March Air Reserve Base. Meanwhile, the Pentagon releases heavily redacted data and survey maps depicting the contamination...
There was an earthquake in California on August 23, 2019, although the ground didn’t move, and few noticed. That was the day California ordered the state’s water systems to establish the nation’s lowest Notification Levels for dangerous Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Two of the deadliest PFAS are Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA). The Notification Level for PFOA has been lowered from 14 parts per trillion (ppt) to 5.1 ppt and the Notification Level for PFOS has been lowered from 13 ppt to 6.5 ppt. These are the lowest levels at which they can be reliably detected in drinking water using current technologies.
Effective January 1, 2020, water systems must notify local government if the limits are exceeded. The State Water Board recommends that water agencies also notify customers and the California Division of Drinking Water (DDW).
Robins Air Force Base is Contaminating Georgia
August 8, 2019
A news story on WGXA TV, a Fox affiliate in Macon, Georgia provides insight into how the military is managing to cover up the extent and the severity of per and poly fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination in Georgia and across the country. The chemicals are used in a variety of routine applications on military bases.
It’s tough to tell if WGXA initially contacted the folks at Robins Air Force Base or if it happened the other way around. The lines between many for-profit news outlets and public information officers at nearby military installations have become blurred in recent years. This piece takes a look at the Pentagon's cover-up and propaganda campaign.
A new drinking water crisis hits US military bases across the nation
July 14, 2019
There are several points here that have never reached a mass audience in this excellent 22-minute documentary produced by NBC Universal. The Navy admits high levels of releases of PFAS at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station but refuses to test wells in adjacent communities. Meanwhile, the Maryland Health Dept says it trusts the military, stating there’s no need to test private wells in St. Mary’s Conty. MD as they have done in hundreds of communities across the country. The Navy says it is not concerned with small releases of PFAS in Maryland. They filmed me at home on the wsater, in St. Mary's County, Maryland
July 14, 2019
There are several points here that have never reached a mass audience in this excellent 22-minute documentary produced by NBC Universal. The Navy admits high levels of releases of PFAS at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station but refuses to test wells in adjacent communities. Meanwhile, the Maryland Health Dept says it trusts the military, stating there’s no need to test private wells in St. Mary’s Conty. MD as they have done in hundreds of communities across the country. The Navy says it is not concerned with small releases of PFAS in Maryland. They filmed me at home on the wsater, in St. Mary's County, Maryland
How a U.S. Base is Poisoning German Water (Video)
July 8, 2019 Explaining to hundreds of Germans gathered in a church in Kaiserslautern near Ramstein Airbase: "They dig a crater the size of this church and they make that crater one meter deep and they fill it with jet fuel and they light it on fire...Then they put it out with carcinogenic foam. You have rivers 11 kilometers from this church that are poisoned by PFAS from Ramstein that are 500 times more than the E.U. allows.." |
PFAS Contamination at American Airbases in Germany
July 8, 2019
Fire-fighting foams used on air bases by the U.S. military are poisoning water systems throughout Germany. The foam spray, used in routine fire drills, is made of a carcinogenic material known as Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS. For training purposes, the American forces light massive, petroleum-fueled fires and extinguish them using these foam sprays. Afterward, the foam residue is allowed to run off, polluting the soil, sewers, surface water, and groundwater.
July 8, 2019
Fire-fighting foams used on air bases by the U.S. military are poisoning water systems throughout Germany. The foam spray, used in routine fire drills, is made of a carcinogenic material known as Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS. For training purposes, the American forces light massive, petroleum-fueled fires and extinguish them using these foam sprays. Afterward, the foam residue is allowed to run off, polluting the soil, sewers, surface water, and groundwater.
Navy Contaminates Local Groundwater and Sewer System in Maryland
June 17, 2019
The U.S. Navy has contaminated the groundwater at Maryland’s Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NAS) with 1,137.8 parts per trillion (ppt) of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to a report published last July by the engineering firm CH2M Hill. PFAS have been associated with a variety of cancers and are known to jeopardize human reproductive health. The contamination was not reported on the Defense Department’s March 2018 report on PFAS.
June 17, 2019
The U.S. Navy has contaminated the groundwater at Maryland’s Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NAS) with 1,137.8 parts per trillion (ppt) of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to a report published last July by the engineering firm CH2M Hill. PFAS have been associated with a variety of cancers and are known to jeopardize human reproductive health. The contamination was not reported on the Defense Department’s March 2018 report on PFAS.
As many as 15 Military Bases Contaminated in Maryland
June 10, 2019
Annapolis, Chesapeake Beach, Fort Meade, White Oak, Aberdeen, Bainbridge, Bethesda Naval, Indian Head, Andrews, Patuxent River, Solomons, Webster Field, Martin State, and Carderock are identified are having contaminated the environment with deadly PFAS from routine fire-fighting exercises.
June 10, 2019
Annapolis, Chesapeake Beach, Fort Meade, White Oak, Aberdeen, Bainbridge, Bethesda Naval, Indian Head, Andrews, Patuxent River, Solomons, Webster Field, Martin State, and Carderock are identified are having contaminated the environment with deadly PFAS from routine fire-fighting exercises.
Chemical Lobby and Health Advocates Square Off on Bills Regulating Toxic Foam
June 2, 2019
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, holds tremendous power in formulating legislation regarding the regulation of deadly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Barrasso is the Senate’s top recipient of cash from the chemical industry and has a lengthy legislative record promoting the industry’s interests. Barrasso is also the Pentagon’s point man. He is opposed to addressing all PFAS chemicals as a class.
June 2, 2019
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, holds tremendous power in formulating legislation regarding the regulation of deadly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Barrasso is the Senate’s top recipient of cash from the chemical industry and has a lengthy legislative record promoting the industry’s interests. Barrasso is also the Pentagon’s point man. He is opposed to addressing all PFAS chemicals as a class.
Daedalus, Icarus, and Pandora
April 25, 2019
Remarkable technologies may escape our control and imperil mankind. Two astonishing inventions in 1938 are like Daedalus’ fastening of wings to wax: the splitting of the uranium atom by Nazi Germany, and the discovery of per and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by Dupont chemists in New Jersey. Although few are aware, the accidental discovery of a PFAS compound 81 years ago, like splitting the uranium atom, was one of the most significant scientific discoveries in all human history. PFAS was discovered by Roy J. Plunkett at the Dupont Company’s Jackson Laboratory in Deepwater, New Jersey. Plunkett is a modern-day Pandora.
April 25, 2019
Remarkable technologies may escape our control and imperil mankind. Two astonishing inventions in 1938 are like Daedalus’ fastening of wings to wax: the splitting of the uranium atom by Nazi Germany, and the discovery of per and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by Dupont chemists in New Jersey. Although few are aware, the accidental discovery of a PFAS compound 81 years ago, like splitting the uranium atom, was one of the most significant scientific discoveries in all human history. PFAS was discovered by Roy J. Plunkett at the Dupont Company’s Jackson Laboratory in Deepwater, New Jersey. Plunkett is a modern-day Pandora.
U.S. Senate Goes Easy on Pentagon Environmental Chief As She Testifies on PFAS Contamination
April 10, 2019
this is how I would have handled the questioning as a U.S. Senator. Segments of Ms. Sullivan’s Testimony appear below, followed by my comments as a “People’s Senator” from Maryland. The psychology of the Pentagon’s defense of murder by contamination is laid out here:
Maureen Sullivan: “These substances are ubiquitous in many industrial and consumer products because they increase a product’s resistance to heat, stains, water, and grease. As such, they are not uniquely attributable to Department of Defense (DoD) activities.”
Sen. Elder: The Defense Department you represent is poisoning people who live adjacent to military bases around the world. I consider you an accessory to murder. The fact that the Department of Defense is associated with many corporate co-defendants makes its actions no less criminal.
April 10, 2019
this is how I would have handled the questioning as a U.S. Senator. Segments of Ms. Sullivan’s Testimony appear below, followed by my comments as a “People’s Senator” from Maryland. The psychology of the Pentagon’s defense of murder by contamination is laid out here:
Maureen Sullivan: “These substances are ubiquitous in many industrial and consumer products because they increase a product’s resistance to heat, stains, water, and grease. As such, they are not uniquely attributable to Department of Defense (DoD) activities.”
Sen. Elder: The Defense Department you represent is poisoning people who live adjacent to military bases around the world. I consider you an accessory to murder. The fact that the Department of Defense is associated with many corporate co-defendants makes its actions no less criminal.
NATO Poisons the Earth - Photo Essay
April 4, 2019
- Baby lambs are born with six legs at Capo Frasca, NATO Base in Sardinia, Italy.
- NATO rained depleted Uranium on Kosovo.
- NATO bases poison adjacent communities with carcinogenic foams that are allowed to seep in the ground at military bases.
-The Spangdahlem NATO Airbase is contaminating the sewerage sludge in an adjacent town, causing townsfolk to incinerate the poisonous sludge that can no longer be applied to farm field because it was poisoning the food chain.
- Burn pits in Afghanistan have sickened thousands.
April 4, 2019
- Baby lambs are born with six legs at Capo Frasca, NATO Base in Sardinia, Italy.
- NATO rained depleted Uranium on Kosovo.
- NATO bases poison adjacent communities with carcinogenic foams that are allowed to seep in the ground at military bases.
-The Spangdahlem NATO Airbase is contaminating the sewerage sludge in an adjacent town, causing townsfolk to incinerate the poisonous sludge that can no longer be applied to farm field because it was poisoning the food chain.
- Burn pits in Afghanistan have sickened thousands.
The military covers up the extent of PFAS contamination across the country while it continues to poison hundreds of communities
March 12, 2019
Protecting expensive jet fighters outweighs human health -
Military Times recently reported that 16 relatives from one family living close to Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs have been diagnosed with cancer and 10 have died. Local water sources are contaminated with 88,400 ppt of PFAS, a toxin used in fire-fighting foam.
March 12, 2019
Protecting expensive jet fighters outweighs human health -
Military Times recently reported that 16 relatives from one family living close to Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs have been diagnosed with cancer and 10 have died. Local water sources are contaminated with 88,400 ppt of PFAS, a toxin used in fire-fighting foam.
The "Million Parts Per Trillion Tour"
Featuring America’s Most Contaminated Military Bases
March 5, 2019
"If the Bill of Rights contains no guarantee that a citizen shall be secure against lethal poisons distributed either by private individuals or by public officials, it is surely only because our forefathers, despite their considerable wisdom and foresight, could conceive of no such problem.” ― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
I drove across the country with my daughter Holly last week to draw attention to the reckless behavior of the military as it continues to poison the waters in communities across the country. We billed our trip, "The Million Parts per Trillion Tour" because we stopped at eight extremely contaminated bases, all with more than a million parts per trillion (ppt) of deadly Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the groundwater.
Featuring America’s Most Contaminated Military Bases
March 5, 2019
"If the Bill of Rights contains no guarantee that a citizen shall be secure against lethal poisons distributed either by private individuals or by public officials, it is surely only because our forefathers, despite their considerable wisdom and foresight, could conceive of no such problem.” ― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
I drove across the country with my daughter Holly last week to draw attention to the reckless behavior of the military as it continues to poison the waters in communities across the country. We billed our trip, "The Million Parts per Trillion Tour" because we stopped at eight extremely contaminated bases, all with more than a million parts per trillion (ppt) of deadly Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the groundwater.
The Military is Poisoning America's Groundwater - A Photo Essay
January 20, 2019
Gripping photographic images of the routine use of fire-fighting foams are documented in this collage of highly contaminated bases. The data is taken from the DOD's report on PFAS contamination at military bases across the country.
January 20, 2019
Gripping photographic images of the routine use of fire-fighting foams are documented in this collage of highly contaminated bases. The data is taken from the DOD's report on PFAS contamination at military bases across the country.
German Town of Wittlich-Land Sues the German Government for PFAS Contamination Caused by a US/NATO Airbase
February 23, 2019
The town is not allowed to sue the US government for costs related to disposal of contaminants coming from nearby Spangdahlem Air Base. Sewer sludge is too deadly to spread on farm fields so the townsfolk say they're forced to incinerate it - causing another environmental nightmare.
February 23, 2019
The town is not allowed to sue the US government for costs related to disposal of contaminants coming from nearby Spangdahlem Air Base. Sewer sludge is too deadly to spread on farm fields so the townsfolk say they're forced to incinerate it - causing another environmental nightmare.
The U.S. Military is Poisoning Germany
February 16, 2019
Germany is experiencing a public health crisis with millions of people potentially exposed to drinking water contaminated with Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS.
A major source of this chemical contamination comes from the aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) used in routine fire-training on U.S. military bases. After igniting, then dousing massive fires with the lethal foam containing PFAS, the American bases allow the poisons to leach into the groundwater to contaminate neighboring communities which use groundwater in their wells and municipal water systems.
February 16, 2019
Germany is experiencing a public health crisis with millions of people potentially exposed to drinking water contaminated with Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS.
A major source of this chemical contamination comes from the aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) used in routine fire-training on U.S. military bases. After igniting, then dousing massive fires with the lethal foam containing PFAS, the American bases allow the poisons to leach into the groundwater to contaminate neighboring communities which use groundwater in their wells and municipal water systems.
The Tyranny of Contamination: The US Military is Poisoning Okinawa.
December 31, 2018
High concentrations of the deadly compounds Per-fluoro-octane sulfonate (PFOS) and Per-fluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA), together known as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been found in the drinking water in communities adjacent to the U.S. Air Force’s Kadena Air Base and the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the Japanese Prefecture of Okinawa. The chemicals are found in the fire-fighting foam used In routine fire-training exercises on base.
December 31, 2018
High concentrations of the deadly compounds Per-fluoro-octane sulfonate (PFOS) and Per-fluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA), together known as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been found in the drinking water in communities adjacent to the U.S. Air Force’s Kadena Air Base and the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in the Japanese Prefecture of Okinawa. The chemicals are found in the fire-fighting foam used In routine fire-training exercises on base.
An Empire of Bases Poisons Water, Threatening Its Own Collapse
December 2, 2018
The U.S. military’s fire-fighting foam is contaminating groundwater and sickening people in communities near U.S. military bases around the world. Per-flouro octane-sulfo-nate or PFOS, and Per-flouro-octa-noic acid or PFOA, are the active ingredients in the foam routinely used to train soldiers to extinguish aircraft fires at U.S. military bases around the world. The toxic chemicals are allowed to leach into surrounding soil to poison groundwater. The result is one of the greatest water contamination epidemics in human history.Doubt that? Click on Google News and enter: “PFOS PFAO Military Base.” Then, come back and read the rest of this article – and brace yourself. It’s bad.
December 2, 2018
The U.S. military’s fire-fighting foam is contaminating groundwater and sickening people in communities near U.S. military bases around the world. Per-flouro octane-sulfo-nate or PFOS, and Per-flouro-octa-noic acid or PFOA, are the active ingredients in the foam routinely used to train soldiers to extinguish aircraft fires at U.S. military bases around the world. The toxic chemicals are allowed to leach into surrounding soil to poison groundwater. The result is one of the greatest water contamination epidemics in human history.Doubt that? Click on Google News and enter: “PFOS PFAO Military Base.” Then, come back and read the rest of this article – and brace yourself. It’s bad.
Beale, Creech, and Travis Air Force Bases are Poisoning Groundwater and Soil
November 30, 2019
The foam used in fire training exercises at Travis AFB contains one of the deadliest compounds ever developed. They are known as Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, and they are killers. The military has known of their deadly nature for more than 50 years and they continue to use the stuff because nothing puts aircraft fires out better. Human health be damned.
November 30, 2019
The foam used in fire training exercises at Travis AFB contains one of the deadliest compounds ever developed. They are known as Per and Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, and they are killers. The military has known of their deadly nature for more than 50 years and they continue to use the stuff because nothing puts aircraft fires out better. Human health be damned.
JROTC Firing Ranges in our High Schools Expose Children to Lead
September 29, 2017.
Children are being exposed to toxic lead particulates through their participation in the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Marksmanship Program in the high schools. Air gun rifles used in high school classrooms and gyms across the country discharge lead fragments at the muzzle end of the firing line and at the target backstop. JROTC officials feel it’s unnecessary to clean their guns regularly. That’s because every pellet being fired down the barrel scrapes out the deposits of lead from the pellets that went before.
September 29, 2017.
Children are being exposed to toxic lead particulates through their participation in the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Marksmanship Program in the high schools. Air gun rifles used in high school classrooms and gyms across the country discharge lead fragments at the muzzle end of the firing line and at the target backstop. JROTC officials feel it’s unnecessary to clean their guns regularly. That’s because every pellet being fired down the barrel scrapes out the deposits of lead from the pellets that went before.
How War Pollutes the Potomac River (with David Swanson)
September 1, 2017
Let’s take a cruise down the Potomac from its source in the mountains of West Virginia to its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay. The journey down this mighty waterway details six EPA Superfund sites created by the Pentagon’s reckless disregard for the fragile ecosystem of the Potomac River watershed: Acetone, Alkaline, Arsenic, Anthrax, Antimony, Bacillus Globigii, Beryllium, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Cadmium, Carbon Tetrachloride, Chromium, Cyanide, Cyclonite, Depleted Uranium, Dichloroethylene, Dichloromethane, Dinitrotoluene, Dioxins, Escherichia Coli, Iridite, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Nitroglycerin, Per and Poly Fluoralkyl Substances, Perchlorate, Perchloroethylene, Phosgene, Phosphorous, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) , Radioactive Carbon, Radioactive sulfur, Serratia Marcescens, Tetrachloride, Tetrachloroethane, Tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, Trans-Dichloroethylene, Trichloroethene, Trichlororethylene, Trinitrobenzene, Trinitrotoluene, Vinyl Chloride, Xlene, and Zinc are all found in or near the Potomac.
September 1, 2017
Let’s take a cruise down the Potomac from its source in the mountains of West Virginia to its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay. The journey down this mighty waterway details six EPA Superfund sites created by the Pentagon’s reckless disregard for the fragile ecosystem of the Potomac River watershed: Acetone, Alkaline, Arsenic, Anthrax, Antimony, Bacillus Globigii, Beryllium, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Cadmium, Carbon Tetrachloride, Chromium, Cyanide, Cyclonite, Depleted Uranium, Dichloroethylene, Dichloromethane, Dinitrotoluene, Dioxins, Escherichia Coli, Iridite, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Nitroglycerin, Per and Poly Fluoralkyl Substances, Perchlorate, Perchloroethylene, Phosgene, Phosphorous, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) , Radioactive Carbon, Radioactive sulfur, Serratia Marcescens, Tetrachloride, Tetrachloroethane, Tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, Trans-Dichloroethylene, Trichloroethene, Trichlororethylene, Trinitrobenzene, Trinitrotoluene, Vinyl Chloride, Xlene, and Zinc are all found in or near the Potomac.
Water Isn’t the Only Source of Lead Contamination in Flint
January 25, 2016
JROTC programs in the city's schools allow high school students to shoot air rifles that spray poisonous lead dust on the floor and in the air. The Guide to Lead Management of Air Gun Shooting says the key to minimizing the risks of lead exposures from any residues that are deposited between the firing line and the targets is to minimize requirements for coaches or shooters to go downrange in order to prevent lead residues from migrating behind the firing line. It doesn’t seem like officials are minimizing these risks in Flint, Michigan. Apparently, the city’s drinking water is not the only source of potential lead contamination.
January 25, 2016
JROTC programs in the city's schools allow high school students to shoot air rifles that spray poisonous lead dust on the floor and in the air. The Guide to Lead Management of Air Gun Shooting says the key to minimizing the risks of lead exposures from any residues that are deposited between the firing line and the targets is to minimize requirements for coaches or shooters to go downrange in order to prevent lead residues from migrating behind the firing line. It doesn’t seem like officials are minimizing these risks in Flint, Michigan. Apparently, the city’s drinking water is not the only source of potential lead contamination.
Special thanks to California Military Department Military History and Museums Program http://www.militarymuseum.org/