Chemicals used by military contaminate drinking water, cause serious health issues

Foam used by the military to fight fires may be linked to some serious illnesses in both children and adults.

The Health and Human Services Department released a report last week looking at the health risks created by chemicals in hundreds of military water sources.

The report concludes that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) do not break down in water and do not degrade in the soil either.

Even more concerning is the chemicals exist in drinking water and humans can be affected by them by consuming that water or even through inhalation.

The chemicals do not just affect people on bases, but the general population and residents living near facilities with the chemicals.

HHS found consistent findings that the chemicals caused increased risk of liver damage, thyroid disease asthma and other ailments.

The report was original skirted under the rug by the executive branch at the beginning of the year. POLITICO first reported in May that the White House and EPA kept the report from going public.

Lawmakers from New Hampshire called on the Trump administration to release the study.

“It is unacceptable and irresponsible that release of this study has been blocked for five months out of fear that it would create a ‘potential public relations nightmare.’ Families who have been exposed to emerging contaminants deserve to know about any potential health impacts that the contaminants may involve, and it is completely unacceptable that your agencies are withholding science-based information and failing to provide details to these families,” a letter to the administration stated.

New Hampshire is home to the now closed Pease Air Force Base, which is known to be contaminated.

The 2018 defense authorization bill authorized $7 million to study the effects of contaminates like PFOS and PFOA in the drinking water.

Read more of the DoD Personnel Report.

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