PFAS in Blood: Air Force Base Study Reveals Alarming Levels in New Mexico
Forever Chemicals: A Community’s Silent Battle Against Air Force PFAS Contamination
Curry County,NM – A recent state regulatory report has unveiled alarming levels of PFAS,or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,in the blood of individuals residing and working near Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County,New Mexico. These “forever chemicals,” known for their persistence in the surroundings and the human body, have infiltrated the community’s drinking water due to the base’s use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam.
The report indicates that PFAS levels in those exposed are approximately ten times higher than those in the region who were not exposed, raising meaningful health concerns. PFAS have been linked to a range of serious health problems, including cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, and kidney disease.
“The results put heartbreak into hard facts,” stated James Kenney, the New Mexico Environment Department Secretary. “This evidence of the harm the US Air Force has done to its neighbors is a call to action to promptly address its longstanding, neglected, toxic PFAS plume that continues to expose the families of Curry County.”
PFAS are a class of approximately 15,000 compounds commonly used to make products water-, stain-, and grease-resistant. While the US government estimates that about 99% of people have PFAS in their blood, those living and working in the plume area showed much higher levels in general. About 26% were in the highest tier for PFAS blood levels nationally.
The Air Force is in the process of phasing out PFAS-containing firefighting foam at over 700 bases nationwide due to its widespread contamination of water and the environment. However, blood levels of nearby residents are not regularly monitored.
New Mexico is currently suing the Air Force to expedite and enhance its pollution remediation efforts in the region. The contamination has already impacted at least 100 private wells and a public well serving Clovis, a city of nearly 40,000 residents.
Surface water samples revealed PFAS levels approximately 27,000 times higher than the EPA’s drinking water limits. The use of polluted water on cropland raises concerns about the safety of agricultural products. In 2018, local dairy farmers were forced to euthanize approximately 3,500 cows due to milk contamination.
“What happened here in Curry County, New Mexico, can happen in any town in USA, so we should all pay attention because its your water and your family next,” Kenney warned.
While the Air Force stated that it has not yet reviewed the data, it emphasized that it is taking steps to address the pollution, including the installation of a water treatment system.
David Andrews, chief science officer with the Environmental Working Group, noted that the blood levels observed in Curry County are similar to those found in other areas contaminated by firefighting foam, underscoring the widespread nature of this environmental and public health crisis.