Residents near Cannon to have opportunity to get blood tested for PFAS

This spring, the New Mexico Environment Department will offer residents living near Cannon Air Force Base and base personnel the opportunity to have their blood tested for specified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) free of charge.

According to a NMED news release, the department issued a request for proposals for a contractor to administer the PFAs blood testing program.

The department plans to host two events in which up to 500 adult volunteers residing within four miles of Cannon will have a small amount of blood drawn and tested for PFAs.

The release reports the participants will be asked to complete a survey to determine any potential exposure to PFAs.

The RFP closes Feb. 22. This program is funded and led by NMED, with assistance from the New Mexico Department of Health and the Department of Veteran Services.

The news release reports individual results will be sent directly to volunteer participants and not shared with state agencies or other organizations.

Participants will be provided information on how to limit PFAs exposure and what they can do should their results show elevated levels of PFAs. The news release reports the aggregated data will be used to better understand PFAs contamination caused by Cannon Air Force Base, the exposure pathways, and overall risks from the contaminants.

“PFAS chemicals are used in so many consumer products that it is likely that most New Mexicans will have some measurable level in their blood,” said New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney said.

Kenney said for those who live near military bases like Cannon, the risk to their health from PFAs exposure may be greater than others.

According to the news release, the PFAS contamination caused by the U.S. Department of Defense at Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases has cost New Mexicans over $8 million in site assessment, cleanup, litigation, and other costs.

The report notes the U.S. DOD’s inequitable response to PFAs sites in New Mexico stands in stark contrast to its approach to PFAs remediation at other sites around the country, including Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, where the U.S. DOD took responsibility for prompt cleanup.

The report said with 715 U.S. DOD PFAs sites in the country, the Environment Department’s mission is to protect and restore the environment and to foster a healthy and prosperous New Mexico for present and future generations.

According to the news release, New Mexico is the only state that the U.S. DOD sued in federal court to stop the efforts of NMED to compel cleanup.

PFAs are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a variety of products, including food packaging, nonstick cookware, and certain types of fire-fighting materials.

PFAs were used in fire-fighting foam at Air Force bases across the United States, including Cannon.

PFAS were discharged into the soil at firefighting training areas percolated into the underlying Ogallala Aquifer.

The news release reported PFAs chemicals can lead to adverse health effects including increased cholesterol, reproductive problems, and cancer.

Questions on the risks of PFAs exposure may be sent to [email protected] .