Demand Justice For The Military's Legacy Of Poison!
Final signature count: 9,189
9,189 signatures toward our 50,000 goal
Sponsor: The Veterans Site
PFAS has poisoned millions of service members and their families. It's time they receive their due justice and support!
Our service members put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. It is our responsibility to make sure they are safe and supported at home. Sadly, our service members and their families are facing an invisible killer that could follow them for the rest of their lives.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are manmade chemicals found in many industrial and consumer products because they increase resistance to heat, stains, water and grease1. Since the 1970s, thousands of new PFAS chemicals have landed on the market in the form of nonstick cookware coatings, stain resistant compounds for upholstery, and waterproofing applicants for clothes and mattresses. PFAS are also found in some food packaging and firefighting materials.
Two of the most common PFAS compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have been linked between to serious diseases like breast cancer.
These “forever chemicals” are ubiquitous and extremely difficult to remove from environmental media. It is believed that most people have PFAS compounds in their blood serum — from drinking water and a variety of other consumer products2.
PFAS compounds are believed to cause multiple health problems. Studies link the chemicals to immune system and endocrine disorders, thyroid problems and some cancers, at fairly low doses (measured in parts per trillion)3.
In 2016, EPA issued a lifetime health advisory for PFOS and PFOA of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water4. Two years later, ATSDR reported that exposure to lower levels of PFOS and PFOA could cause increased cancer risks and other health issues in humans5.
Until recently, PFAS contaminated the drinking water of scores of military bases, and many communities near these installations continue to drink contaminated water. At least 28 bases have been identified with PFAS in drinking water at levels above those set by some state regulators. Among the most contaminated are Fort Bragg, in North Carolina, the West Point Military Academy, in New York, and the Yuma Proving Ground, in Arizona6.
PFAS chemicals are now either confirmed or suspected at 678 military installations7.
Our service members put their lives on the line to protect our freedom. It’s time we take a stand for them by telling Congress to end new PFAS pollution and clean up legacy contamination. Sign the petition below and demand that the EPA amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to define PFOS and PFOA as hazardous substances so the cleanup can begin.