Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) Contamination in Drinking Water From Use of Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) at Airports in the United States

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are demonstrated carcinogens and reproductive toxins.  PFOS has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and disrupt endocrine function, increasing levels of stress hormones and disrupting reproductive cycles. Research on the effect of PFOS in rats has shown that both low and high doses of PFOS affected the reproductive cycles of female rats. The use of PFOA and PFOS in surfactants, and polymers, pharmaceuticals, fire retardants, lubricants, adhesives, cosmetics, paper coatings, and insecticides has resulted in widespread contamination of the environment with these compounds.  PFOA and PFOS are persistent in the environment and in humans, due to the stability of their carbon-fluorine bonds.  This persistence has resulted in the increased body burden measured in animals and humans throughout the world. 3M manufactured a type of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) that contained PFOS. AFFF is used for aviation, marine and shallow spill fires and are commonly used at airports in airport fire intervention vehicles. PFOS from AFFF can leak into groundwater from airport use. The Fire Fighting Foam Coalition (FFFC) in May 2002 reported that 3M, the manufacturer of the type of AFFF that contains PFOS,  voluntarily stopped production of AFFF because it contains PFOS and the chemicals have begun showing up in the blood of humans and animals. Soil and water contaminated with PFOS have been found near airports long after fire fighting foams containing PFOS have been banned. The use of AFFF at airports has the potential to cause drinking water quality problems and human health issues nationwide.