“Residents in each of these affected communities are asking us to help protect their health, their loved ones and their water,” said committee chair Sen. The health conditions associated with exposure to the chemicals are an increased risk of cancer, liver damage and harm to reproduction and thyroid function.ĭefense officials also faced tough, bipartisan questions on Thursday about the Pentagon’s lack of a comprehensive plan to address PFAS exposure for service members, most commonly in drinking water, after a watchdog report earlier this year found DOD waited five years to act after identifying the chemicals as a serious risk. The DOD is currently reviewing nearly 700 military sites around the country where PFAS may have been used. Senators and advocates this week said more need to be done to let former service members, military communiities and surrounding public water utilities about possible contaminationĪt a hearing before the Senate’s homeland security committee, Inspector General Sean O’Donnell - who also temporarily conducts oversight of the Department of Defense - told lawmakers his office found that the EPA “lacks the tools and resources necessary” to evaluate and address the risk of PFAS chemicals, which make up the firefighting foam often used on military installations. The DOD has begun reviewing nearly 700 military sites for contamination and testing the blood of firefighters, who may have been exposed to PFAS because of the foam they use to put out fires.Oversight and defense officials testified before the Senate's homeland security committee on Thursday about the federal response to PFAS chemicals, which can be concentrated around military installations.The watchdog for the EPA and the Pentagon on Thursday testified that the EPA may lack the capacity to properly mitigate widespread contamination of the group known as “forever chemicals” at military bases around the country.
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