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 to this fight.

Read below to see how four states within the Gulf Coast have been tackling PFAS contamination and how you can get involved in their respective fights! 

Alabama

In 2016, a Harvard University study found that Alabama had the 4th highest level of PFAS contamination in the United States. In 2022, the Waterkeeper Alliance tested 114 waterways across the United States and out of the 95 that tested positive for PFAS contamination, eight of them were located in Alabama. Of the eight, the Coosa River at Neely Henry Lake contained the highest level of PFAS in Alabama with levels 4000 times higher than the EPA threshold.

The company 3M holds substantial responsibility for the PFAS contamination in Alabama. According to AL Reporter, multiple water supplies in Alabama have reportedly been affected by 3M’s dumping of PFAS chemicals, including the small town of Guin and the City of Decatur, where 3M’s two Alabama facilities operate.

From 2017 to 2022, Gadsden Water Works had been in an active lawsuit against 3M and in late 2022 a settlement was reached. The City of Centre Water Works in Decatur also sued 3M in 2017 which is still ongoing to the present day.

Call to action: Clean Water Alabama is a non-profit clean water organization that prioritizes urging elected officials to ensure that the water resources throughout Alabama are protected. Tell officials in Alabama to put the waterways first!

Coosa Riverkeeper, a regional hub of the Waterkeeper Alliance, is a non-profit organization that is fighting to report water pollution throughout Coosa. Click here to report pollution in the Coosa area!

Florida

In November of 2022, it was discovered by a team of researchers led by the University of South Florida, that high levels of PFAS chemicals were detected in the Tampa Bay sediments and fish. According to the report, the highest concentrations of PFAS pollution were found in Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay. Catfish, sea trout, ladyfish, and jacks tested for high levels of PFAS contamination.

Tampa Bay is home to both recreational and commercial fisheries in Southern Florida. The reliance on this fishing hub has become worrisome to local residents due to the high levels of PFAS found in fish. Where does this contamination come from? Military bases throughout Florida.

In a 2021 investigation by Florida DEP, it states that aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used by military firefighters contains high levels of PFAS chemicals. Last summer, the Department of Defense (DoD) released data that found high levels of PFAS in areas near military bases in Florida. The detections in Florida were found near Whiting Field Naval Air Station, Saufley Field Naval Air Station, and CID Corry Station in Escambia County.

Call to Action: A joint project between the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Earth Democracy Committee, and Pat Elder titled Military Poisons is an initiative to hold the military industry accountable for their role in PFAS contamination. Sign this petition urging Congress to clean up toxic chemicals at military bases.

Louisiana 

During the summer of 2022, the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans conducted a study of the contamination levels within the Mississippi River. Through their research, it was discovered that there are high levels of PFAS contamination within the Mississippi.

According to LA Illuminator, The Mississippi River is a central source of drinking water for many communities in the southeastern part of Louisiana. Rebecca Malpass, Water Collaborative’s policy and research director, stated that, “We found numbers of PFAS that were 200 to 268 times what the EPA said was safe for our drinking water.”

As mentioned on the New Orleans Public Radio, the Water Collaborative sampled the Mississippi River’s surface water at 31 locations in nine parishes from June 22, 2022 through July 2, 2022. The group also tested soil samples along the river.

Although there is a lot of work to be done to rectify this situation, there has been tremendous progress recently. Due to the independent research done by Water Collaborative and pressure from local residents, Louisiana will receive $26.3 million from the EPA to address PFAS and other chemicals from the drinking water.

Call to Action: Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans is an environmental health justice organization that seeks to ensure a lifetime of living, thriving, and loving water for every resident on a local, state, and federal level. Donate here to help Water Collaborative continue their work of testing for contaminants throughout Louisiana to identify where clean-up efforts are needed most. 

Texas

In Texas, there is something exacerbating the PFAS; fracking. The scale of fracking in Texas is much larger than other states in the US both historically and currently. As reported by Statista, Center for Biological Diversity, and Gogel, Texas is the #1 state in the nation for fracking and has been a major player in the industry since the 1950s. 

In a report titled “Fracking with “Forever Chemicals’: Analysis Finds Oil and Gas Companies May Be Exposing Texans and Groundwater to Highly Toxic Chemicals,” it was found that from 2013 to 2022, oil and gas companies have used more than 21 tons (43,000 pounds) of PFAS chemicals in hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells in Texas. During the same period, frackers used another three-million tons of potentially toxic chemicals that remain unidentified because state rules allow the industry to hide them from the public.

While PFAS contamination is usually reported through water supply channels, in Texas the contamination takes another form. According to Grist, PFAS can also be airborne if the substance is pumped into a well and then that well is flared or vented, which is common in Texas. In some parts of Texas, like the Fort Worth region, homes, daycares, and businesses are located within a few hundred feet of flaring gas wells.

Call to Action:  Texas Rural Water Association is currently gathering residents across Texas to participate in a multi-district lawsuit against manufacturers of PFAS in the state. Click here to see if you or someone you know qualifies!