Tests given after chemical found in water well
UPDATED August 24, 2015
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. —Blood tests for people who may have been exposed to an unregulated contaminant in a well at Pease Tradeport have come back elevated, and many are wondering what to do now.
The well was shut down in May 2014 after a test showed the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, one of a class of chemicals known as perflurochemicals, or PFCs.
Levels of the chemical were found to be 10 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's advisory level. Five hundred people opted to be tested to see if the chemical was present in their blood. One of 108 children to be tested was Alayna Davis' 5-year-old son.
"My heart sank," Davis said. "It's scary."
Andrea Amico's two children and her husband all have elevated levels.
"I'm very concerned," she said. "I want to know what this means about their future. I want to know what health effects they may be at risk for now."
The chemical is linked to fire retardants used on the runway when Pease belonged to the Air Force. Researchers said little is known about its health effects, but it builds up in the body.
"PFCs aren't good for anybody, but we've learned that pregnant women and children are the most at risk for health effects," Amico said.
"If there's not enough attention on it, could we be just swept under the rug?" said Jenn Horton, of Nottingham. "And then, 10 years from now, I find out my kids have cancer or leukemia or fertility issues. We don't know -- that's the problem."
Horton said her family got tested, but they haven't received the results yet.
Many are calling for a framework of communication for years to come. Some said the Air Force should take the lead.
"I would like to see that they're going to follow this through and not just pretend we're this small group of people and that we'll go away some day," Amico said.
The Air Force is holding a meeting Wednesday night to lay out its plans for cleaning up the wells at Pease. The state has opened up another round of testing for anyone who wants to opt for it.