The PFAS concern is so great in New Mexico that the state is offering the testing of more residents around Clovis, home to Cannon AFB where the chemical was used in firefighting.
PFAS from firefighting foams were primarily discharged into the soil at firefighting training areas around Cannon AFB. These chemicals migrated into local groundwater resources, which serve as a drinking and agricultural water source for thousands of residents in the Clovis area.
The New Mexico Environment Department and the state Department of Health announced they would be offering another 250 blood tests for PFAS exposure. PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals, have been linked to potential health risks.
The extended testing period will run from Nov. 14 through Nov. 20 by appointment only. This follows previous sessions in September and October, where 500 residents from the area surrounding Cannon Air Force Base (AFB) signed up, citing health concerns related to PFAS contamination in the local water supply. Already, over 130 appointments for November’s session have been filled.
Testing is available to adult New Mexico residents who currently or previously lived or worked near Cannon AFB, where PFAS from military firefighting foams have polluted the water.
Additionally, NMED will host an in-person public meeting on Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. at Clovis Community College Town Hall, 417 Schepps Blvd, Clovis, NM 88101. This event will run concurrently with a virtual-only meeting by the U.S. Air Force. Community members can join the Air Force meeting in-person with NMED Secretary James Kenney and other NMED staff, who will offer further information and address any questions unanswered by Cannon AFB officials.
“The United States Air Force hosts in-person community meetings on toxic PFAS contamination around its installations in other states but does not meet with the residents of New Mexico in-person,” said Cabinet Secretary James Kenney. “The New Mexico Environment Department is holding this in-person public meeting so residents can meaningfully participate with state experts to understand Cannon Air Force Base’s pollution of the groundwater.”
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals used in various products, including food packaging, nonstick cookware, and certain firefighting materials. Often called ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not easily degrade, PFAS accumulate over time in soil, water, and living organisms