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John Sherman, a 60th Engineer Squadron firefighter, is hit by fire-retardant foam after it was “unintentionally released” in an aircraft hangar at Travis Air Force Base in California on Sept. 24, 2013.

Study links ‘forever chemicals’ to testicular cancer in US troops

The military first documented health concerns surrounding chemicals known as PFAS decades ago yet has continued to use firefighting foam made with them.

By Hannah Norman and Patricia Kime, KFF Health News

9 months ago

Toxic foam spill at Hawaii’s Red Hill facility due to contractor error

About 1,300 gallons of toxic fire suppressant leaked at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage site near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Nov. 29, 2022.

By Kent Miller

12 months ago

These Mid-Atlantic bases have toxic levels of cancer-linked chemicals, report finds

PFAS contamination is affecting both groundwater and seafood in the Chesapeake Bay.

By Meghann Myers

3 years ago

It will probably be decades before DoD can clean up all the toxic ‘forever chemicals’

An official said it will take years to examine the issue, and many more to fix it.

By Meghann Myers

3 years ago

Arizona agency: Luke Air Force Base needs longer term water solution

The head of Arizona’s environmental agency called on Luke Air Force Base in metro Phoenix to help stop the spread of a plume of chemicals contaminating the area’s drinking water after recent testing discovered high levels of compounds commonly found in a firefighting foam once used there.

3 years ago

2 wells for drinking water near Naval Base Kitsap contaminated

Two wells bordering Naval Base Kitsap’s southern edge have been found to have potentially harmful levels of contamination caused by a firefighting foam used on the base.

4 years ago

Are military efforts to clean up and replace toxic ‘forever chemicals’ cutting it?

PFAS contamination has become a military-wide problem, with more than 700 military installations having either confirmed or suspected cases of contamination.

By Philip Athey

4 years ago

For Kaela, Congress must make PFAS pollution a priority

Congress must direct DoD to quickly confirm the presence of PFAS at hundreds of bases and with a sense of urgency clean up legacy PFAS pollution now — not in 30 years as DoD has proposed.

By Jim Holmes

4 years ago

Advocates: Pentagon failing to communicate dangers of firefighting foam chemicals to troops, families

Groups want widespread testing, monitoring and cleanup of PFAS chemicals, which have leached into the ground and drinking water supplies in some communities.

By Patricia Kime

4 years ago

New Mexico fines Air Force $1.7 million over groundwater

The New Mexico Environment Department claims Cannon Air Force Base has released wastewater despite not having a permit since March 2019.

4 years ago

New Mexico lawmakers cheer bid to ease Air Force contamination impact

A defense spending bill that's close to clearing Congress is getting praise from members of New Mexico's congressional delegation, who say it includes some relief for communities affected by contamination at Air Force bases in the state and elsewhere around the country.

4 years ago

Here are more than 300 bases with possible toxic 'forever chemical’ contamination

An updated site map shows 305 sites in all 50 states with confirmed or possible PFAS water contamination.

By Meghann Myers

4 years ago