Audience
PFAS are synthetic chemicals that were first introduced in the 1940s and have been used in a variety of household and industrial products. PFAS is a primary ingredient in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), used as a fire suppression agent at airports and military bases. Industrial use of the chemical raises environmental contamination concerns in areas surrounding the production of these chemicals and areas surrounding airports and military bases that utilize AFFF. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided specific information about PFAS at the following website: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-02/documents/pfas_methods_tech_brief_28feb19_update.pdf
Recently, the Navy has acknowledged that at NAS Patuxent River, and possibly at its Webster Field site, AFFF may have been released into the environment. The Navy and EPA are currently investigating the extent of any contamination on NAS Patuxent River. Given our proximity to NAS Patuxent River and Webster Field, concerns have been raised relative to the risk that groundwater and surface water at the College could be contaminated.
College drinking water is provided through three wells located on campus. The College has consulted with Maryland Environmental Services (MES), and requested MES specifically test our campus drinking water for PFAS. The final report confirms that the College’s drinking water is free of PFAS.
The other concern that has been expressed is the safety of swimming in the St. Mary’s River. The College had MES test water from the St. Mary’s River for PFA, which showed a result of 1.7 parts per trillion (ppt), which is well below the 70 ppt Drinking Water Health Advisory Level set by the EPA. PFAS chemicals are not readily absorbed through the skin so the risk of swimming in the river is negligible, however drinking the water from St. Mary’s River is not advised for reasons separate from PFAS chemicals. The Water and Science Administration of the Maryland Department of the Environment has confirmed these findings.