Colorado health officials should take the contamination crisis in El Paso County into their own hands and set a limit for the allowable concentration of unhealthy chemicals found in drinking water.
PFCs are used in a number of consumer products and have been linked by scientists to problems like low birth weights, and kidney and testicular cancers. The chemicals are thought to endanger pregnant women, infants and children the most.
The results make it difficult to track the plume’s progress toward other communities, including Pueblo.
Also, Finley reported this summer that researchers from the Colorado School of Mines found that carbon filters, like those being used by one of the public water systems in the contaminated area, fail to fully remove all the harmful chemicals.
Much more is needed to be done on this issue and the state should step in to fill the gap and compel more action from the EPA and DOD.
Finley reported last week that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is considering setting a legal limit for the maximum amount of PFCs.
Finley reported the Colorado School of Mines detected PFCs at 11,000 parts per trillion and 33,000 parts per trillion in an undisclosed water supply near the base.