Imports of used PFAS into US scrutinized
15 Mar 2019 | Chemical & Engineering News
To meet demands for nonstick-pan coatings and fuel-cell components, Chemours depends on a fluorinated chemical called GenX. This compound helps building-block materials link together into tough, resistant plastics and industrial membranes. During the process of making these materials, GenX, an ammonium salt, ends up in water and hydrolyzes into…
Pentagon pushes for weaker standards on chemicals contaminating drinking water
15 Mar 2019 | New York Times
Facing billions of dollars in cleanup costs, the Pentagon is pushing the Trump administration to adopt a weaker standard for groundwater pollution caused by chemicals that have commonly been used at military bases and that contaminate drinking water consumed by millions of Americans. The Pentagon’s…
16 cancer cases in one family: Base water contamination fight moves to Congress
15 Mar 2019
Former Army reservist Spc. Mark Favors comes from a military family who has lived for generations near Colorado Springs’ Air Force and Army installations. It’s taken a severe toll, he said. Favors, 50, can count at least 16 relatives from the area who have been diagnosed with cancer;…
Toxic chemicals threaten water supply in seven municipalities
7 Mar 2019
Read the full article by David Abel “Three years ago, after federal authorities began sounding alarms about a host of manmade chemicals found in drinking water near military bases, town wells near Fort Devens tested positive for the toxic substances, some significantly in excess of what public health officials consider safe. Town officials, who had…
The “Million Parts per Trillion Tour” featuring America’s most contaminated military bases
7 Mar 2019
I drove across the country with my daughter Holly last week to draw attention to the reckless behavior of the military as it continues to poison the waters of America. We billed our trip, “The Million Parts per Trillion Tour” because we stopped at eight extremely contaminated bases, all with more than…
Firefighting foam contaminated Northeast Portland, OR groundwater
3 Mar 2019
For years, firefighters and airfield crews trained to ward off flames by spraying thousands of gallons of foam fire suppressants, which eventually seeped into groundwater and could threaten to contaminate the Columbia River and a well field that supplies drinking water to the city of Portland. Recent testing…
The U.S. military plans to keep incinerating toxic firefighting foam, despite health risks
27 Jan 2019 | The Intercept
The U.S. military is moving ahead with plans to collect and destroy unused firefighting foam that contains the hazardous chemicals PFOS and PFOA. But in trying to solve one environmental problem related to these persistent chemicals, which have caused massive drinking water contamination, the Defense Department may be creating another.
DuPont has spread its pollution around the world. Now it wants to filter your contaminated drinking water
11 Dec 2018 | The Intercept
DuPont opened a factory in Saudi Arabia that will produce reverse osmosis water filters. The filters use ultra-thin membranes to remove water impurities, including PFAS — chemicals made and used by DuPont that have caused widespread water contamination around the world... “DuPont has learned the art of making money coming and going,” said Telsey. “They profited off the environmental contamination and now can profit on cleaning it up. It’s quite a feat.”...