The Fight Against PFAS Contamination Across the Country

PFAS contamination is an issue that plagues every corner of our country. It destroys families and livelihoods without qualms. According to a recent study, around 200 million Americans likely receive water that is contaminated with PFAS. And while this is an issue that affects Americans across the country, it is one that adversely impacts low-income communities, communities of color, and farming communities.

Read below to see how a handful of states across the country are tackling PFAS and what you can do to get involved! 

Maine

Maine has been a leader in the fight against PFAS contamination. Although Maine is currently experiencing a PFAS sludge crisis due to the actions of Casella Waste Systems on top of other contamination issues, the state has taken ‘first-in-the-country’ steps to tackle PFAS contamination.  

Call to Action: Defend Our Health has been a leader in this fight against PFAS since 2019 and we’ve made many strides in this battle. Take a look at some of our victories from the the previous legislative session and sign up for our newsletter today to follow along with us in this fight this session and beyond.

Michigan

Michigan has the highest PFAS contamination rate in the entire country. As of 2019, around 1.9 million Michigan residents have been exposed to PFAS through their drinking water. This has led to the creation of a response team called the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team. 

How did Michigan get to this point? There are a total of 11 military bases across the state. Due to firefighting foam, which contains materials made up of PFAS chemicals, it has led to the contamination of the water supply in Michigan. Because of the number of rivers, lakes, and water sources within the state, the highly toxic chemicals move throughout Michigan in a rapid manner, causing widespread contamination.

Organizations like Demand Action, are calling on their state legislators to take action on strengthening regulations on PFAS and to hold corporations accountable for their disposal of toxic waste and the contamination that has occurred as a result. 

Call to Action: Mari Copeny, also known as Little Miss Flint, has created a “Clean Water Fund” with the goal of providing clean water to families in Michigan and communities across the country. Click here to support the Clean Water Fund.

Michigan League of Conservation Voters are urging lawmakers and elected state officials to hold corporate polluters responsible for their role in PFAS contamination. Send a message to your lawmaker today!

New Mexico

New Mexico can also point a lot of its PFAS contamination to military bases housed within the state. Cannon Air Force Base has contaminated water supplies, private wells, and wells that supply dairies, while Holloman Air Force Base has contaminated groundwater. Originally discovered in 2018, PFAS contamination has since been linked to four other military bases within the state. 

The state of New Mexico tried to hold the military accountable by suing the Air Force for their role in the PFAS contamination. Moving this fight to the Department of Defense, New Mexico asked a federal judge to require the Air Force to fund the clean-up project to tackle contamination but has yet to receive any funds. 

PFAS contamination affects everyday people by poisoning their cattle and crop land, like a family in the town of Clovis, who was forced to exterminate their entire cattle herd because of PFAS contamination in the drinking water that the herd consumed. Toxic contamination can ruin family businesses and severely impact the health of adults and children. Leaders and advocates throughout the state are calling on citizens and local/state elected officials to take legal action against PFAS manufacturers for their role in this contamination crisis.     

Call to action: Sign this petition to help Communities for Clean Water continue their fight to protect clean water for Rio Grande watershed communities.

Pennsylvania

In 2019 it was discovered that 17 sites throughout the state of Pennsylvania have been contaminated by PFAS chemicals. Many of the towns surrounding the contamination sites have been greatly affected due to the close proximity of the military bases nearby that have been contaminating the drinking water. It was also discovered in 2019 that the Willow Grove Naval Air Station had been storing 4,500 tons of contaminated soil that had begun to leak chemicals into nearby water sources. 

Local leaders and community activists across Pennsylvania have been demanding lawmakers to take action on the clean-up and eradication of PFAS chemicals. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman both announced in February 2023, a plan to use federal funding of over $75 million to address PFAS contamination in the state. 

Call to Action: Clean Water Action is currently fighting to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to clean water free from PFAS chemicals. Take action by sending an email to the Pennsylvania DEP urging them to set stricter maximum contamination level standards.

Colorado

Colorado’s PFAS crisis has displayed itself in a way we have yet to discuss here; through fish. According to a 2022 study conducted by the Colorado Health Department, the Colorado School of Mines, and Colorado Park and Wildlife, 100% of the fish sampled within the study tested positive for PFAS contamination. While the study at the time could not determine if the levels found were enough to be harmful to human health, an updated 2023 study found that “a single serving of freshwater fish can deliver as much PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ as drinking a month’s worth of water tainted with the toxins      As of right now there are no EPA or state regulations for the amount of PFAS chemicals that can be found in fish that is sold to consumers.

Call to Action: Madhvi Chitoor, an 11-year-old Colorado resident, alongside organizations and local leaders are calling on state elected officials to phase out PFAS poisonous products to ensure that Colorado becomes a PFAS-free state. Take action here by signing this petition urging Colorado elected officials to phase out of PFAS products today!