MacDill AFB groundwater to be tested for toxic chemicals from firefighting foam

The Air Force plans to send environmental health inspectors to Mac Dill Air Force Base this summer to test the groundwater for contamination from a firefighting foam, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 

Recently, it was discovered that the top choice for fighting petroleum based fires, Aqueous Film Forming Foam, is not entirely safe. The Air Force has been testing groundwater for perfluorinated compounds at air bases around the country. More than 200 installations have been tested, 20 of which are undergoing some form of cleanup, the paper reported.

The chemicals have not been detected in Mac Dill's drinking water, officials said. 

Studies on animals done by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found the foam to disrupt endocrine activity, reduce function of the immune system, damage organs and even cause developmental issues within offspring. Human studies have suggested conflicting results, some suggesting the foam is damaging while others remain inconclusive. 

An Air Force spokesperson told the paper that the Air Force has awarded a $6.2 million contract to replace firefighting foam used in fire vehicles to reduce the risk of possible contamination of soil and groundwater.

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