Studies Claim The Implications Of PFAS Are "Alarming"

The implications of PFAS exposure are alarming. PFAS are dubbed "forever chemicals" because they do not naturally break down in the environment and can accumulate in human blood and organs. Studies have shown that even low-level exposure to PFAS can increase the risk of cancer, harm fetal development, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.

According to the updated assessment, the areas surrounding more than 700 military installations across the United States are likely contaminated by PFAS, posing severe health and environmental concerns for the general public and service members and their families.

The number of communities threatened by the military’s pollution will likely increase as further investigations are carried out. The defense department has only looked at about one-third of more than 700 facilities suspected of having contaminated the ground with PFAS.

Some of the highest levels of PFAS in groundwater ever detected have been found around bases. The Environmental Protection Agency’s advisory health guidelines state that less than one part per trillion (ppt) in drinking water is safe, while levels found around military bases have exceeded 2.25m ppt.

The government has confirmed the presence of PFAS in drinking water and groundwater at 455 sites, with an additional 255 bases under suspicion of contamination. This brings the total number of DOD sites with confirmed or suspected PFAS contamination to a staggering 710.

This situation has raised significant concerns among service members, their families, and communities living near these military bases.

Drinking Water & Non-Military Base PFAS Exposure

Drinking water contamination with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) originating from non-military sources has become a growing concern. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) September 2021 update, approximately 10 million Americans were affected by PFAS-contaminated drinking water.

While most PFAS contamination cases were linked to military bases due to the use of firefighting foams, non-military sources like industrial discharges, manufacturing, and landfills also contributed significantly.

For instance, a study published in the journal "Environmental Science & Technology Letters" found that non-military sources accounted for 36% of PFAS contamination in drinking water supplies in the United States. These sources release PFAS into the environment, which can enter public water sources.

This highlights the importance of regulating PFAS use in the military and addressing the broader issue of PFAS pollution from non-military bases to protect public health and the environment. 

Diseases, Conditions & Cancers Linked To PFAS Exposure

Potential eligible individuals include anyone diagnosed with the following conditions within 20 years of the last known exposure or diagnosed within the last 20 years.

If you have had a known exposure to PFAS-contaminated water or are willing to take a blood test to determine PFAS levels and suffer from any of these conditions, you may be eligible for compensation!

• Kidney Cancer
• Testicular Cancer
• Thyroid Disease (including Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s Disease, Grave’s Disease, Goiter, and Thyroid Nodules)
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Preeclampsia (suffered by the pregnant mother)
• Low Birthweight (5 pounds or less for the newborn)
• Liver Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• “Blood Cancers” such as Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Hodgkin
• Lymphoma, Myeloma/Multiple Myeloma