2024 CPEO Military List Archive

From: Lenny Siegel <LSiegel@cpeo.org>
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2024 15:32:32 -0800 (PST)
Reply: cpeo-military
Subject: [CPEO-MEF] PFAS: "Forever chemicals reach extraordinary levels in wildlife at Holloman Air Force Base"
 
Forever chemicals reach extraordinary levels in wildlife at Holloman Air Force Base

By New Mexico Sun
February 21, 2024
    
A team of researchers from The University of New Mexico’s Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) have made a concerning discovery regarding the levels of chemical contamination in wildlife at Holloman Air Force Base. The study, recently published in Environmental Research, revealed that various wild birds and mammals at the base are heavily contaminated with 'forever chemicals' known as per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Lead author of the study, MSB Director and Professor of Biology Christopher Witt, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "Across 23 species of birds and mammals, PFAS concentrations averaged in the tens of thousands of parts per billion." This level of contamination far surpasses what was seen in dairy cattle in Clovis, N.M., where animals had to be destroyed due to milk contamination at less than six parts per billion.

The research team focused on the area around Holloman Lake, emphasizing its importance as a habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Research Associate Jean-Luc Cartron explained that the primary cause of contamination is believed to be the use of fire-fighting foam by the U.S. Air Force over several decades. The foam, which contained toxic PFAS, was extensively used in training exercises at military installations like Holloman A.F.B., leading to runoff into waste-water catchment ponds.


…

For the entire article, see
https://newmexicosun.com/stories/655014083-forever-chemicals-reach-extraordinary-levels-in-wildlife-at-holloman-air-force-base

—

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director
Center for Public Environmental Oversight
A project of the Pacific Studies Center
LSiegel@cpeo.org
P.O. Box 998, Mountain View, CA 94042
Voice/Fax: 650-961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org
Author: DISTURBING THE WAR: The Inside Story of the Movement to Get Stanford University out of Southeast Asia - 1965–1975 (See http://a3mreunion.org)

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