“WASHINGTON, DC — Michigan Congressional delegation members are reminding colleagues drafting a federal spending bill not to forget $7 million for a national study on the health and environmental impacts of toxic flourochemicals near military bases.
Seven Republicans and four Democrats signed a letter to the U.S. House appropriations committee this week urging full funding for the study of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances called PFAS or PFCs.
Michigan’s two U.S. senators sent a similar letter in that chamber.
‘Michigan families and our men and women in uniform who were unknowingly exposed to unsafe levels of dangerous chemicals deserve the best treatment we can give them,’ said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich…
Congress passed a defense bill last year authorizing $7 million to comprehensively study the long-term health effects and cumulative impact of two PFAS compounds, PFOS and PFOA, contamination in drinking water and groundwater.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry would perform the study alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Defense. It’s expected to help federal agencies decide whether to designate PFOS and PFOA as carcinogenic…
The ATSDR’s current position on human health effects of PFAS is that more research is needed because ‘studies in humans and animals are inconsistent and inconclusive but suggest that certain PFAS may affect a variety of possible endpoints.’
Now, Congress has appropriate money for that research.
Congress has until March 23 to pass legislation to fund the federal government through the current fiscal year end on Sept. 30. The government is presently operating on a continuing resolution following budget standoffs that have already caused two shutdowns this year.”
Read the full article Garret Ellison.