Busy transportation hubs like Flint’s Bishop and Detroit Metro International airports have been granted the option to switch to firefighting foams that do not include the highly toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS, thanks to new legislation enacted by Congress today.

Under current law, airports are required to use firefighting foams that contain these chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, kidney disease and other health problems.

The chemicals leach into public drinking water and are a “significant” source of PFAS contamination throughout the country, according to EWG Legislative Attorney Melanie Benesh.

EWG research has resulted in estimates that the water supply of 110 million Americans or more could be contaminated with toxic fluorinated chemicals.

“This legislation is a critical first step to allow airports to switch to less toxic alternatives, which are already being used safely and effectively in other countries,” she says.

Benesh applauded Congress and called out Senators Sullivan, Thune, Peters, and Nelson, as well as Representatives Upton, Shuster, DeFazio and Kildee, for taking “this important action to protect public health.”

  Bishop International Airport, contaminated water, Detroit Metro Airport, fluoriated chemicals, PFAS foam, PFASs, Representative DeFazio, Representative Kildee, Representative Shuster, Representative Upton, Senator Nelson, Senator Peters, Senator Sullivan