Editor’s note: This commentary is by Alison Spasyk, of Williston, who is an intern for the Toxics Action Center.
[V]ermont’s congressional delegation have accomplished quite a lot in their tenure in regard to protecting the health of their constituents and the environment. As someone who is particularly concerned about the prevalence of environmental toxins, especially in my tap water, I’m happy to finally see some legislative action at the national level. The recent passage of the National Defense Authorization Act in the House of Representatives includes important amendments that will not only protect members of the military from toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS, but also prevent further contamination in communities throughout the country.
PFAS chemicals have been used for decades in a variety of industrial processes and consumer products, including non-stick cookware, water resistant materials, and fast food wrappers. However, the largest source of contamination in drinking water comes from the use of firefighting foam used on military bases and airports.
When PFAS chemicals are released into the environment, they don’t break down as other chemicals do. And when they are consumed, the body cannot break them down either, which allows them to accumulate within organs and tissues. PFAS has been linked to cancers, kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, reproductive problems and more.
At Toxics Action Center, we work side by side with community groups to tackle environmental threats and develop and train new leaders to strengthen the environmental and social change movements. When we learned about the PFAS contamination crisis likely affecting the drinking water of over 110 million people across the country, we connected with residents around New England and beyond to co-found a national coalition of people who have been directly impacted by toxic water. In the past three years of our work together, we’ve learned that it takes everyday people taking action to stop contamination and restore safe drinking water. We’ve also learned that a strong commitment among legislators to protecting the health of communities can make all the difference.
Numerous towns in Vermont have detected unsafe levels of PFAS in their drinking water as a result of military operations and other commercial practices. If the NDAA successfully passes the Senate in the coming weeks, military use of PFAS will be phased out of firefighting foam and PFAS will no longer be used in military food packaging. Additionally, the bill recognizes PFAS as a “hazardous substance” under superfund law, which will accelerate cleanup efforts around military installations.
Thank you, Sen. Leahy and Rep. Welch, for protecting our members of the military from these toxic substances and surrounding communities as well. This legislation marks a crucial step in eliminating the use of PFAS chemicals and providing the means to clean up contaminated areas. However, there’s still more left to do to make sure all Vermont residents are safe from PFAS contamination.
