VVA Calls for More Action on Military Base Toxic Exposures
Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 9:17 am
VVA Calls for More Action on Military Base Toxic Exposures
(Washington, D.C)--“While we are deeply disturbed to learn that the water at over 100 military installations might have potentially harmful levels of perfluorinated compounds, which have been linked to cancers and development delays for fetuses and infants, we are not surprised,” said John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America National President. “It has long been VVA’s contention that many of the bases in the United States are polluted, causing serious health risks for those who have lived there.”
“We applaud Secretary of Defense Mattis for his initiative in releasing the March 2018 report, ‘Addressing Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoi Acid (PFOA),’ which outlines the full magnitude of the presence of PFOS and PFOA in drinking water and groundwater on our military bases and identifies 401 active and Base Closure and Realignment installations in the United States with at least one area where there was a known or suspected release of perfluorinated compounds.
“We strongly urge the President and his advisors to consider the effects of these toxic exposures on military service members and their families, and we ask them to hasten the safety changes being made at affected bases and to fully fund and support the research being conducted between DoD and Centers for Disease Control on the long-term effects of these exposures. To do otherwise would undermine those promises made in good faith to our troops and stain the integrity of our great nation,” said Rowan.
“For Vietnam veterans, it’s déjà vu all over again. We are thankful for the support of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which has allowed VVA and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to come together in partnership to ensure that our Post-9/11 veterans don’t have to wait a lifetime for government to make good on its promise to care for those injured in defense of our Constitution and their families. This partnership with WWP and TAPS allows VVA to share lessons learned and advocate for our younger veterans and their families,” said Rowan.
(Washington, D.C)--“While we are deeply disturbed to learn that the water at over 100 military installations might have potentially harmful levels of perfluorinated compounds, which have been linked to cancers and development delays for fetuses and infants, we are not surprised,” said John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America National President. “It has long been VVA’s contention that many of the bases in the United States are polluted, causing serious health risks for those who have lived there.”
“We applaud Secretary of Defense Mattis for his initiative in releasing the March 2018 report, ‘Addressing Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoi Acid (PFOA),’ which outlines the full magnitude of the presence of PFOS and PFOA in drinking water and groundwater on our military bases and identifies 401 active and Base Closure and Realignment installations in the United States with at least one area where there was a known or suspected release of perfluorinated compounds.
“We strongly urge the President and his advisors to consider the effects of these toxic exposures on military service members and their families, and we ask them to hasten the safety changes being made at affected bases and to fully fund and support the research being conducted between DoD and Centers for Disease Control on the long-term effects of these exposures. To do otherwise would undermine those promises made in good faith to our troops and stain the integrity of our great nation,” said Rowan.
“For Vietnam veterans, it’s déjà vu all over again. We are thankful for the support of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which has allowed VVA and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to come together in partnership to ensure that our Post-9/11 veterans don’t have to wait a lifetime for government to make good on its promise to care for those injured in defense of our Constitution and their families. This partnership with WWP and TAPS allows VVA to share lessons learned and advocate for our younger veterans and their families,” said Rowan.