Clarifying Facts About PFAS That Have Not Been Addressed

To the editor: Speaking as a private citizen, I would like to clarify some facts about PFAS that have not been addressed in the misleading discussions so far.

1) There is NO safe level of PFAS in drinking water. The acceptable level of 20 parts per trillion is purely arbitrary. It is expected the federal government will reduce the acceptable level to 4 parts per trillion.

2) PFAS is toxic, causes cancer and birth defects.

3) PFAS accumulates in our bodies. It is not metabolized and it does not break down.

4) At this time, it has been linked to testicular cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer and thyroid cancer.

5) PFAS crosses the placenta and can affect the developing fetus leading to abnormalities.

6) PFAS is a hormone disruptor and can lead to early puberty, decrease sperm counts and fertility problems. It is associated with immune dysfunction, reduced vaccine effectiveness and increases susceptibility to infections.

7) Contaminated water is a common source of exposure. Not only open water, but foam in the surf at the beach and vegetables grown in contaminated soil or compost. Contaminated meat, even wild meat are a source. Inhaling PFAS laden dust from the turf is another source of exposure.

8) It is all around us and in us. Do we really need more of this family of toxic chemicals?

9) Turf proponents listen to company salesmen, “Hey everyone knows they are honorable men.” However, they question experts in the field who have presented to our community, without being paid, hard evidence, based in scientific research, that the turf is dangerous.

10) The discussion about the field started with a proposal with PFAS free turf, which mutated into no intentionally added PFAS turf, especially long chain PFAS. I would like to ask about the presence of short chain or branch chain PFAS, especially since these chemicals have not yet been tested for toxicity.

11) Remember when we banned plastic straws at town meeting? Now we are proposing to drop 20 tons of plastic on top of our aquifer. Turf can release 20,000 micro and nano plastic particles daily. These will contaminate our water and be inhaled by our athletes. These nano and micro plastic particles have been found in human tissues. They are already in our water and are airborne. The proposed monitoring wells will not catch these small particles until it is too late. These particles are hormone disruptors and have been associated with infertility and decreased sperm counts as well as clotting disorders.

Timothy J Lepore, M.D., FACS