The Fight Against PFAS Contamination in Tennessee

Today, we focus our sights on Tennessee in our ongoing series highlighting PFAS contamination issues nationwide. In 2019, the company 3M admitted that it had illegally released toxic chemicals into the Tennessee River from its Decatur, AL manufacturing plant. 3M did this, although it had been barred from doing so under the US Toxic Substances…  Read more »

PFAS Action Act: Sewage Sludge Contamination 

PFAS contamination via sewage sludge has impacted the lives of many farmers in Maine and across the county, so much so that a sludge crisis has ravaged multiple states. The biggest question on your mind may be, “How does this happen?.” Sewage sludge is the leftover contaminant from treating wastewater. Whenever we flush anything down…  Read more »

Defend’s 5-Year Reflection: Our Track Record on Solving The PFAS Crisis

Over the past five years, Defend Our Health has lived up to its name by consistently advocating for the right to equal access to safe food and drinking water. Defend has led the nation in effectively protecting public health and ensuring justice for people harmed by ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) for…  Read more »

The Fight Against PFAS Contamination in South Carolina

PFAS contamination is an issue that is impacting farmlands all across the nation. From Maine to New Mexico, the rise in PFAS contamination has reached a crisis level and is impacting U.S. citizens from all backgrounds of life. Today, we are focusing our sights on South Carolina. According to The State, recent testing in South…  Read more »

PFAS Impacted Farmers Hold Press Conference in Michigan

Yesterday, PFAS impacted farmers from across the country are gathered to speak to the media about what the contamination has meant for their livelihoods and their businesses in a press conference. Impacted farmers and policy experts will speak about the economic and health impacts of the contamination of farmland with the so called ‘forever chemicals.’ Speakers…  Read more »

Defend Our Health Featured on ‘What You’re Eating’ Podcast

Hosted by Jerusha Klemperer, in episode 16 titled “PFAS: The ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Your Food,” Food Print spoke to our campaign manager, Adam Nordell, to focus their attention on Maine to learn more about PFAS and how the chemicals have ended up in well water, on farms, in food, and ultimately in people’s bodies. Adam…  Read more »

Internship Reflection and 2023 Legislative Cycle

For the past few months I had the opportunity to work with Defend Our Health as an intern, where I focused on supporting priority bills in Maine’s 2023 legislative session. With my background in environmental health, and my current work as a public health analyst and a Physician’s for Social Responsibility Next Generation Climate Ambassador,…  Read more »

The Fight Against PFAS Contamination in The Gulf Coast

Gulf Coast communities have long been subjected to the iron grip of petrochemical plants and oil companies. These communities, often BIPOC and low-income, are heavily subjected to the health impacts of both air and water contamination. Around 200 million Americans likely receive water that is contaminated with PFAS and the Gulf Coast is no stranger…  Read more »

Minnesota Becomes the Second State to Ban PFAS – With A Little Help From Maine

Since 2021, Maine has been the first and only state in the nation to ban the use of ‘forever chemicals’ in all products. Until now! On May 17, 2023, the Minnesota legislature passed an environment and energy package, HF 2310 “Environment, Natural Resources, Climate, and Energy Finance and Policy Bill,” which includes a total ban…  Read more »

PFAS WEEK RECAP: Defend Joins Advocates in Week-long Testimonies on PFAS Related Bills

The week of April 24th, Defend joined legislators, impacted citizens, scientists and health advocates as they testified on a number of PFAS related bills to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee. As reported on by Portland Press Herald, concerned constituents faced pushback from business groups that want lawmakers…  Read more »