New Mexico is home to some of the world’s most extensive PFAS contamination, especially near military bases, where firefighting foams containing PFAS were used for decades, including at Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County and Holloman Air Force Base in Otero County.
What are PFAS?
PFAS, which stands for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are human-made chemicals that make products resistant to heat, water, stains, and oil. They are often called “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly in our bodies and in the environment.
Some PFAS are associated with health effects such as cancer, reproductive damage, increased cholesterol, and other problems.
Because PFAS can build up in the body, even small, repeated exposures over time can matter.
What is New Mexico doing about PFAS contamination?
New Mexico is helping to lead the nation in tackling the effects of PFAS contamination, with actions such as:
- Passing the PFAS Protection Act, which phases out intentionally added PFAS in many consumer products and requires a label on products that still contain PFAS.
- Adding PFAS firefighting foams to the New Mexico’s Hazardous Waste Act, allowing the state to regulate the management and cleanup of Aqueous Firefighting Foams (AFFF) and shifting the financial burden from taxpayers to polluters.
- Suing the U.S. Department of War to compel the military to halt non-emergency use of AFFF and compensate property owners harmed by it.
- Launching NMED’s PFAS Blood Testing Program — offering free PFAS blood testing to adults who lived or worked near Cannon Air Force Base.
- Offering free private well testing and water solutions in two New Mexico areas with known PFAS concerns: La Cienega/La Cieneguilla communities in Santa Fe County and Curry County near Cannon Air Force Base.
