Curry County PFAS Crisis: Air Force Contamination and the Threat to Rural Communities
For decades, the promise of safety and security offered by military installations has been a cornerstone of American life. But a growing body of evidence reveals a hidden cost: widespread contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often linked to firefighting foam used on and around these bases. A recent study in Curry County, New Mexico, near Cannon Air Force Base, has laid bare the stark reality of this contamination, raising serious health concerns for residents and sparking a legal battle with the US Air Force. This isn’t just a local issue; it’s a national crisis unfolding in communities across the country, and understanding the scope of the problem is crucial for protecting public health.
A Toxic Legacy: PFAS and the Cannon AFB Plume
the findings from Curry County are deeply troubling. Researchers discovered that individuals who lived or worked near Cannon Air force Base had PFAS levels in their blood roughly ten times higher than those in other parts of the region. These aren’t trace amounts; the levels detected are notable enough to warrant serious health concerns.
PFAS, frequently enough dubbed “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and human body, are a class of over 15,000 compounds used in countless products – from non-stick cookware to water-resistant clothing. Their widespread use, particularly in Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) - a firefighting agent historically favored by the military – has led to pervasive contamination of water sources nationwide.
The specific PFAS compounds found at elevated levels in curry County residents’ blood align with those commonly used in AFFF. this strongly suggests a direct link to the Air Force base’s past use of the foam. The consequences are far-reaching. PFAS exposure has been linked to a disturbing array of health problems, including:
Cancer: increased risk of kidney, testicular, and other cancers.
Immune System Suppression: reduced antibody response to vaccines and increased susceptibility to infections.
Developmental issues: Birth defects and impacts on fetal growth.
Metabolic Disorders: High cholesterol, thyroid disease, and other metabolic disruptions.
Liver and Kidney Damage: Compromised organ function.
A community Under Siege: The Impact on Curry County
The contamination in curry County isn’t just a statistical anomaly; it’s a lived reality for residents. The situation has escalated to a point where:
Over 100 private wells have been poisoned. Families have lost access to safe drinking water, forcing them to rely on bottled water or alternative sources.
The public water supply for Clovis, a city of nearly 40,000 people, has been affected. This impacts a significant portion of the local population.
Surface water contamination is staggering. levels are 27,000 times higher than the EPA’s drinking water limits, posing a threat to both human and ecological health.
* agricultural land has been compromised. In 2018, local dairy farmers were forced to euthanize approximately 3,500 cows due to PFAS contamination in their milk, representing a devastating economic blow to the community.
“The results put heartbreak into hard facts,” stated James Kenney,New Mexico Environment Department Secretary. “This evidence of the harm the US Air Force has done to its neighbors is a call to action to promptly address its longstanding, neglected, toxic PFAS plume that continues to expose the families of Curry county.”
A National Problem: More Than 700 Contaminated Sites
Curry County is not an isolated case. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has identified over 700 military bases nationwide with documented PFAS contamination. While the military is phasing out the use of AFFF, the legacy of decades of use continues to plague communities across the country.
What’s particularly concerning is the lack of proactive monitoring of PFAS levels in residents living near these contaminated sites. While approximately 99% of Americans are estimated to have some level of PFAS in their blood, those in the direct path of these plumes exhibit considerably higher concentrations. In Curry County, roughly 26% of tested individuals fell into the highest national tier for PFAS blood levels, and PFHxS levels – a common compound in firefighting foam – were more than three times the US average.
What Can Be Done? Legal action and Personal Steps
The state of New Mexico is actively pursuing legal action against the Air Force,demanding a more rapid and comprehensive cleanup of the contamination. This includes not only
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