The PFAS chemicals found in firefighting foam have long been recognized for the adverse health effects they have on humans. What’s worse, these PFAS chemicals are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down, instead accumulating in the body and water supply over time.

Significant PFAS contamination is often found near military bases where firefighting foam is frequently used. Due to these two factors, some lawmakers have been pushing for stronger protections for service members from these dangerous chemicals.

What Are PFAS Chemicals?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances can be found in food packaging, paints, nonstick pans, stain repellant, polishes, waxes, cleaning products, and firefighting foam. Contaminants from these products can then build up in fish, animals, humans, and community drinking water. PFAS include both PFOS and PFOA chemicals.

PFAS chemicals have been linked to several adverse health effects including negative effects on the liver, kidneys, immune system, and thyroid. Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to lower infant birth weights, cancer, and increased cholesterol levels. According to the EPA, an accumulation of PFAS chemicals in the body is what leads to these negative effects.

PFAS Chemicals Contamination of Military Sites

One of the biggest risks posed by PFAS chemicals is the contamination of groundwater. Communities across the country have experienced PFAS contamination, but military bases are particularly likely to accumulate these chemicals.

The use of aqueous film forming foam is common in military training exercises and is also used to fight liquid fires at military sites. However, once the fire is out, the chemicals remain. According to Military.com, nearly 680 military bases had been flagged either for PFAS contamination or for “suspect discharges of PFAS compounds” as of April 2020. These sites were identified by the Environmental Working Group led by Scott Faber

“Through the Freedom of Information Act and other DoD documents, we have confirmed that the PFAS is in the tap water or groundwater of 328 of these 678 military installations,” Faber told Military.com. “The Pentagon’s use of aqueous film forming foam has disproportionately exposed military service members and their families and nearby communities to higher levels of PFAS pollution.”

The nearly 700 military bases flagged for their PFAS chemicals contamination include Fort Bragg, West Point, and Yuma Proving Grounds. The Department of Defense (DoD) said it is not the cause of the contamination at any site where the contamination levels are above the EPA’s threshold, according to Military.com. In places where PFA contamination exceeded approved levels, bottled water and filtration systems were reportedly provided to residents.

New Protections for Service Members

New legislation may require the DoD to begin blood testing all service members who may have been exposed to PFAS chemicals. Under last year’s National Defense Authorization Act, the DoD is required to begin PFAS testing of military firefighters by Oct. 1, according to Military.com. Firefighters are at the greatest risk of exposure to these chemicals due to the high PFAS content of firefighting foam.

There are at least ten different measures being proposed in this year’s defense bill regarding PFAS chemicals including the expansion of testing. Other measures include the following.

• Increased research of these chemicals by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Prohibition of  the purchase of PFAS products by the DoD
• Regulations on the destruction of PFAS chemicals by the DoD
• A national database of service members with PFAS-related conditions
• Designation of these chemicals as hazardous by law

Each of these measures is currently still in the proposal stage, and some lawmakers feel these measures go “a bridge too far”. It’s possible if not likely that these measures won’t be included in the final version of the bill.

Part of President Joe Biden’s environmental justice plan involves the promise to “tackle water pollution in a science-based manner,” including designating PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances, forcing a regulatory contamination limit for these substances in drinking water, incentivizing companies to choose alternatives to PFAS chemicals, and pushing for more PFAS research.

Filing a PFAS Lawsuit

Some have turned to litigation over PFOS and PFOA contaminants, alleging that these “forever chemicals” have contaminated wells, increased the risk of various health effects, and even lowered property values.

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