DOD must do more to address PFAS pollution

By Rebecca Patterson & Scott Faber | Bloomberg Law | June 19, 2020

Read the full article by Rebecca Patterson & Scott Faber (Bloomberg Law)

"Military service members and their families are especially at risk from forever chemicals because of the DOD’s 50-year use of fire-fighting foam made with PFAS. Vietnam Veterans of America’s Rebecca Patterson and Environmental Working Group’s Scott Faber say Congress needs to help accelerate the cleanup of legacy PFAS contamination in installations and reduce ongoing exposures.

The toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS contaminate the blood of virtually every American. These chemicals have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer, harm to the reproductive system, and harm to the immune system.

Americans are exposed to dozens of PFAS every day. Because PFAS never break down and build up in our blood and organs, they are often known as “forever chemicals.”