[CPEO-MEF] PFAS: "Concerning levels of PFAS in fish miles away from large contamination source"

[Lenny Siegel]

Concerning levels of PFAS in fish miles away from large contamination source
Research finds that monitoring and regulations are needed to protect public health 

Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
October 16, 2024

Fish can accumulate high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), even far from sources of contamination, according to a new study by researchers at The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). The research highlights the need for expanded monitoring in watersheds affected by large PFAS sources, such as military bases across the country that have been contaminated by the use of PFAS-containing foams for fire-training and firefighting activities.

“This study underscores the urgent need for more comprehensive monitoring of PFAS in aquatic ecosystems, particularly in regions where freshwater fishing is an important food source for recreational and subsistence fishers,” said Elsie Sunderland, the Fred Kavli Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at SEAS and senior author of the study. “The public health risks posed by PFAS extend beyond immediate contamination sites and can affect communities living far from known sources. To protect these communities, it is crucial to measure PFAS in fish at sites that are hydrologically connected to known contamination sources and to develop consumption advisories.”

…

For the entire release, see
https://seas.harvard.edu/news/2024/10/concerning-levels-pfas-fish-miles-away-large-contamination-source

For the full study, see
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c07016


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Lenny Siegel
Executive Director
Center for Public Environmental Oversight
A project of the Pacific Studies Center
LSiegel at cpeo.org
P.O. Box 998, Mountain View, CA 94042
Voice/Fax: 650-961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org
Author: DISTURBING THE WAR: The Inside Story of the Movement to Get Stanford University out of Southeast Asia - 1965–1975 (See http://a3mreunion.org)