PFAS

2022 - 12 - 25

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Image courtesy of "Stars and Stripes"

Air Force surveys find falling levels of 'forever chemicals' at fighter ... (Stars and Stripes)

A manmade chemical, PFAS, and its components PFOS and PFOA, are found in firefighting foam, also known as aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, on some U.S. ...

The base, 33 miles south of Tokyo, after the May results removed its firefighting foam and installed a carbon filter at the treatment plant. At a runoff pond about 1,500 feet from the plant, the Air Force in June found 46.2 nanograms per liter in water entering the pond and 81.5 nanograms per liter exiting, the spokeswoman said. The Defense Ministry continues to urge the Air Force to “take thorough preventative measures and safety maintenance,” she said. 19 sampled the water treatment facility at the base 26 miles southwest of Tokyo for traces of PFAS chemicals. The fire suppression systems that once held firefighting foam “were isolated and contained to prevent any future accidental discharge.” “I drink the water on base every day.” [Naval Air Facility Atsugi in September](https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2022-12-20/pfas-pfos-atsugi-japan-yokosuka-us-navy-8484803.html) when a control panel malfunction in a hangar caused a release of firefighting foam into a nearby stream during a heavy rain. Because PFOA and PFOS persist in the environment, the Environmental Protection Agency refers to them as “forever chemicals.” They are commonly used for a variety of applications, from nonstick cookware to aircraft grease. Studies show an increased risk of cancer and other adverse health effects from exposure to these substances, according to the EPA. 3 and released water through a fire suppression system where the foam was previously kept, base spokesman Lt. A frozen pipe in a hardened aircraft shelter at Misawa in northeastern Japan cracked Jan. bases on Okinawa and in the Tokyo metro area.

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Image courtesy of "Sierra Magazine"

PFAS Are Everywhere. We Need Systems Change to Fix That. (Sierra Magazine)

Exposure to PFAS such as the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been linked to a variety of health problems, from an increased risk of kidney and ...

[Toxic-Free Food Chemical Alliance petition](http://bit.ly/stop-pfas) asking the FDA to ban PFAS in food production, packaging, and manufacturing. Unlike other certifications and lists of PFAS-free products online, GreenScreen Certified products must be lab-tested to be free of all PFAS as well as phthalates, heavy metals, and some solvents. Another study found that two popular brands of floss had the highest levels of PFAS out of the 39 tested: Oral-B Glide (248,900 ppm) and Colgate Total Mint Waxed Dental Floss (91,400 ppm). But there are safer food products and foodware that have been found to have no indications of PFAS, such as Santa Cruz Organic Creamy Peanut Butter (which comes in glass). Another study by the Ecology Center found indications of PFAS in car seats and strollers. In 2019, the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology published a study on how women who used Oral-B Glide floss had higher levels of PFAS in their blood than women who didn't. The fast-food chain Nathan's Famous served food in bags with 876 ppm of PFAS, the highest level of PFAS of any brands investigated. In tests conducted by Mamavation, 15 out of 23 popular brands of bras showed indications of PFAS on the fabric next to the nipple areas. Researchers for the nonprofit Silent Spring found the presence of PFAS in a variety of textile products, even ones labeled "green" or "nontoxic." Silent Spring found indications of PFAS in mattresses by Sealy and clothing from Gap, Old Navy, and Lands' End. PFAS exposure may even increase the likelihood of COVID-19 infection (and more serious symptoms). Some of the most hazardous chemicals to human health and the environment are in just about everything we purchase and consume, whether it's personal-care products, food packaging, cookware, or clothes.

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Image courtesy of "Lancaster Farming"

Environmental Stewards Should Transition From Toxic Chemicals ... (Lancaster Farming)

A Lancaster Farming reader criticizes a statement from Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman.

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Image courtesy of "wausaupilotandreview.com"

State regulators seek federal help to investigate unsafe PFAS levels ... (wausaupilotandreview.com)

Danielle Kaeding | Wisconsin Public Radio The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking federal regulators for help investigating PFAS.

[shallow glacial deposits](https://www.wpr.org/sites/default/files/dhs_dnr_pfas-presentation-at-town-of-stella-board-meeting-12-13-22.pdf) of sand, gravel and silt that extend about 50 feet below the surface. [Wisconsin Public Radio](https://www.wpr.org/) and is being republished by permission. But around [one-third](https://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/DG/DG0045.pdf) of people in Wisconsin rely on private wells that draw directly from groundwater. [31 of 56 homeowners](https://www.wpr.org/sites/default/files/dhs_dnr_pfas-presentation-at-town-of-stella-board-meeting-12-13-22.pdf) that were offered testing. [groundwater sampling of 450 wells](https://www.wpr.org/marshfield-adams-among-latest-cities-shut-down-wells-pfas-contamination) statewide related to the DNR’s voluntary PFAS sampling program. [up to $16,000](https://www.wpr.org/sites/default/files/dhs_dnr_pfas-presentation-at-town-of-stella-board-meeting-12-13-22.pdf) may be available for residents, but grants must be approved prior to any work. [state’s drinking water standard](https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-natural-resource-board-votes-weaken-standard-pfas-drinking-water) of 70 parts per trillion. The DNR has said such wells may be a solution in some cases, but not all. About half had PFAS levels exceeding the state’s health guidance, and nine had levels above 1,500 parts per trillion. The lack of an immediately apparent source has prompted the DNR to ask for assistance from the U.S. The agency sampled private wells for [perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances](https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc/index.cfm).

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