Yesterday we aired a story about a report issued by the Department of Defense which found that two sites on board the Twentynine Palms Combat Center exceeded EPA safe levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid in the water. The Environmental Protection Agency lowered the safe levels of the PFOS and PFOA to 70 parts per trillion in 2009; the base’s levels tested at more than 300 to 400 parts per trillion. The chemicals are used in aqueous film forming foam, which military firefighters use to fight aircraft fires. Today, the Combat Center issued a press release in which it states only one site aboard the Combat Center exceeded the maximum safe level, and it was at a location near Camp Wilson where firefighters train to extinguish aircraft fires. According to the press release, firefighters no longer train with AFFF at these sites and there is no hazard to personnel at these sites. In addition, the base says the groundwater at this site does not contribute to the drinking water aquifer for the base or the city. The release states the base routinely tests water quality aboard the installation and the drinking water does not contain detectable levels of these chemicals and remains safe to drink.
The original story may be found here:
https://www.z1077fm.com/department-of-defense-report-says-water-on-twentynine-palms-marine-base-may-be-harmful/
