Seneca Lake Guardian, an environmental advocacy group, has begun distributing free PFAS test kits to residents living within a mile of the Seneca Meadows landfill. This initiative aims to gather baseline data regarding potential PFAS contamination in well water near the site.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are durable chemicals present in numerous everyday items, from dental floss to waterproof materials. These “forever” chemicals, once linked to several health issues by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, often leach into the environment as products decay in landfills, creating contaminated water. Amid concerns, the Seneca Falls town board has recently postponed a resolution that would request the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to probe elevated lung cancer rates around the landfill.
Residents not connected to the Town’s municipal water supply and living near the landfill can qualify for a test kit by contacting Seneca Lake Guardian. The kits, which are expected to take 1-2 weeks for delivery, come with explicit instructions for collecting water samples. Once analyzed, residents will be informed of the results, and if significant PFAS levels are found, further tests might be financed by Seneca Lake Guardian.
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