OPINION: Alaska leaders should tell us more and do more to combat PFAS pollution

Like everyone in Anchorage, I shoveled metric tons of snow this winter. The upside is that it gave me plenty of time to daydream about fishing my favorite lakes and rivers this coming summer.

I was jolted from that daydream recently, however, when I saw the results of water samples done in some Anchorage lakes and Ship Creek: Our water is contaminated with PFAS chemicals.

According to a report made public last month, Alaska Community Action on Toxics conducted independent testing of area water bodies in 2021 in Fairbanks, North Pole and Anchorage with additional testing done in Anchorage in 2022. Lakes Hood and Spenard showed some of the highest levels of PFAS in the water and other places Alaskans like to recreate are on the list too.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, aka PFAS, are a large family of human-made chemicals that have been widely used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. In Alaska, PFAS contamination of our waters is largely caused by the use of PFAS-based firefighting foams on military bases and airports. According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, current peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to health issues affecting human reproduction, developmental effects or delays in children, the immune system, hormone interference and may increase the risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney and testicular cancer.

Over the years, I have heard about PFAS contamination in other parts of the country and in other parts of Alaska but until now, I was unaware there are contaminated water bodies in Anchorage. It should not be surprising, since I know full well we have a strong aviation industry and military presence here, but it still comes as a shock.

The scientific evidence concerning the health harms of PFAS is definitive. PFAS are highly toxic at extremely low exposure levels. They are known as “forever chemicals” because they are incredibly persistent. And they bioaccumulate in fish, wildlife and people. The question is, what is being done about it?

One can see with a quick internet search the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC, has an entire web page dedicated to documentation of PFAS contamination, complete with lists and maps of the known contaminated locations so far. This includes many sites on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, or JBER, a neighbor to Ship Creek. The Alaska Department of Transportation even has a separate website documenting contamination near airports. In all, the state now reports 469 sites around Alaska contamination has been identified in soil and water. Public drinking water sources and hundreds of private wells are contaminated throughout Alaska.

However, even though the state is aware of the situation there does not seem to be any effort to conduct comprehensive water or fish testing, or even to educate residents who use the lakes and creeks around Anchorage.

Levels of PFAS in Anchorage lakes and Ship Creek are similar to those that triggered fish consumption advisories by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for certain lakes in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. What is being done to prevent further harm and to protect water quality and the health of people in our community?

For years, the Alaska Legislature has heard bills pertaining to PFAS, but past legislation died in committee. Legislation introduced in the Alaska State Senate, Senate Bill 67, would ban the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS which would be great for the future but is not enough to address the situation we are in now.

The state of Alaska needs to help us help ourselves as we navigate this problem together. Alaska could use federal clean up dollars available in the 2021 federal infrastructure bill to pay for water and soil testing and remediation for contaminated sites. Affected communities must be provided with safe drinking water. Blood testing of people — and even our pets — for PFAS should be made accessible and available. Residents everywhere need easy ways to be notified if there is potential contamination in an area where they live or recreate.

We need our leaders to take immediate, meaningful actions to protect people from PFAS and we need it now. Legislators should pass SB 67 during this session and take up comprehensive measures as have been passed in other states to address this complex problem. Alaskans should not have to fish around for information, and we should not have to worry about whether our fish are safe to eat.

Bradley K. Cruz, M.D., is retired from a medical career in radiology. He lives and volunteers in Anchorage.

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