Residents, workers near Cannon AFB can get free blood tests for PFAS chemicals

CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE) – Residents and workers surrounding Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis will be able to get free blood tests to check for PFAS. The tests are available to adults who have lived or worked in certain areas around the base where PFAS have contaminated the local water supply. 

"Starting way back in 2019, the United States Department of Defense sued New Mexico and said, we're not going to clean up this PFAS contamination that migrated off base," said James Kenney, Secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), "We fought back and said, yes you are. And to this day, while we're still in litigation, the Department of Defense has not cleaned up one drop of PFAS that got into the groundwater and migrated off base."

According to Kenney, the fight to clean up PFAS, a group of chemicals known as 'forever chemicals,' around Cannon Air Force Base has stretched over years.

In that time, Kenney said the chemicals have gotten into the groundwater. Kenney said PFAS are in almost everything: "Anything that is stain resistant, water repellent, that's slick in nature probably contains some degree of PFAS."

What are PFAS?

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a variety of products, including food packaging, nonstick cookware, and certain types of fire-fighting materials. They are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not easily degrade in the environment, according to the New Mexico Environment Department.

"The chemical bonding is so strong that not even decomposition in the environment occurs," Kenney said; and, they accumulate in the body, causing a whole host of health problems. "Everything from high cholesterol to low birth weight to various types of cancer. So the gamut is wide and the science keeps telling us that no detection of these chemicals is the safe amount," Kenney said, "In the area around military bases, it's often around the ingestion of that potable water, that drinking water."

Studies have shown a link between PFAS and numerous adverse health effects, including increased cholesterol, reproductive problems, and cancer. 

“The unfortunate truth is that most of us likely have PFAS in their blood due to the common use of these chemicals in consumer products like non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing,” Environment Department Sec. James Kenney said in a news release. “However, our residents who live on or near military installations like Cannon Air Force Base may be at significantly higher risk due to the Department of Defense’s longstanding practice of releasing PFAS into nearby groundwater. The Department of Defense’s lack of responsible and meaningful clean-up outside of Cannon Air Force Base over the last five years increases the risk of exposure to New Mexicans.” 

Information about testing and who qualifies

The free tests are being offered by the New Mexico Environment Department, the Department of Health, and the Department of Veterans’ Services.

Kenney said the most surefire way to measure how many people in Clovis have been affected by the contamination is to test their blood: "Blood testing will tell us conclusively: are the residents of Clovis in that area of the plume at a higher risk than the national average or are they lower than the national average?"

Kenney said they have identified roughly 500 people who live and work in the area of the plume of forever chemical contamination who are eligible for a free blood test, but there are talks about expanding the program. "We're not going to stop this fight until we win and we know people are safe, the water is safe, and there's a real meaningful clean-up plan in place," Kenney said.

At this time, only current New Mexico adults who have worked or lived in the white-outlined area of the map displayed below are eligible. If future testing is warranted, the state may
increase eligibility outside this initial area.

Testing will be performed during two periods: Sept. 12 through Sept. 18, and Oct. 3 through Oct. 9. Participants will have a one-teaspoon-size blood sample taken, and it will be tested for 33 different PFAS. Everyone who gets their blood tested will also receive a $25 gift card, according to Kenney.

NMED said participants will receive their results within three to four months via a letter that explains how to understand the data. NMHealth will offer access to public health staff members via a helpline to discuss results and answer any questions. All participants will also be given a $25 physical gift card after completing their appointment. 

The state agencies will host a public meeting starting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 27 at the Clovis Civic Center (801 Schepps Blvd., Clovis, New Mexico 88101) to share information about how to make an appointment to get tested.

Additional information about PFAS can be found here.