A leading environmental advocacy organization recommends that Congress adopt a three-part approach in dealing with toxic PFAS contaminates in its upcoming fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act conference negotiations, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) wrote Tuesday.
Earlier this summer the House and Senate versions of the annual defense policy legislation were approved, and EWG is proposing the final version retain three principles to deal with the toxic chemicals: report PFAS releases, reduce PFAS discharges and remediate legacy PFAS pollution.
The House and Senate versions of their FY 2020 NDAAs currently contain PFAS-related provisions EWG supports:
- Report some PFAS releases through the Toxic Release Inventory.
- End military use of PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging.
- Reduce industrial discharges of PFAS into drinking water supplies.
- Remediate sites with the worst PFAS contamination.
Experts have warned that PFAS chemicals have been linked to cancer and are harmful to reproductive and immune systems. In addition, EWG says, PFAS contamination has been found in more than 700 communities and more than 100 million Americans may have PFAS in their drinking water.
Major sources of contamination are PFAS-based firefighting foams, industrial discharge of PFAS into the air and water, and PFAS in food packaging and other everyday consumer products, EWG says. Once released, PFAS chemicals enter humans through food and drinking water, among other sources.
Because PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” don’t break down once released into the environment, they build up in blood and organs. Nearly all Americans have PFAS in their blood and about one-fourth have unsafe levels, according to EWG.
Without forthcoming congressional legislation, currently there are no legal limits on PFAS chemicals or legal requirements to clean up legacy contamination, EWG says.
Military and civilian firefighters have used PFAS-based foam for decades that have contaminated military installations and communities across the country. At the same time, manufacturers continue to release PFAS into the air and water with hundreds of facilities suspected of releases of PFAS chemicals, according to EWG.
However, manufacturers are not restricted by environmental or reporting requirements, EWG says. In addition, water utilities are not required to remove PFAS from water supplies or even test for its presence.
Further, PFAS toxins are not designated as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law, allowing manufacturers and polluters to avoid cleaning up legacy PFAS contamination. EWG says.
The risks to the environment and communities remain unchecked, according to EWG, as PFAS manufacturers have resisted congressional efforts to adequately report, reduce and remediate PFAS pollution.
Despite ongoing industry and manufacturer resistance, through the activism of community leaders and key legislators’ support for retaining critical PFAS-related provisions in the FY 2020 NDAA, communities are fighting back, EWG says.
Air Force photo by Airman Jacob Wrightsman
