PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 26, 2024
Initial state tests reveal extremely high concentrations of an especially long-lasting and toxic forever chemical at Brunswick Landing, where a malfunction in an airport hangar’s fire suppression system created one of the country’s biggest firefighting foam spills in 30 years. The tests found 3.2 billion parts per trillion of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, in the chemical tank that fed 1,450 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) concentrate into a malfunctioning fire suppression system at Hangar 4 at Brunswick Executive Airport on Aug. 19. Maine has established several screening guidelines for remedial action when it comes to PFOS – 1,000 parts per trillion for groundwater leachate. The new federal drinking water standard for PFOS is stricter: no more than 4 parts per trillion. Scientists say even trace amounts of these manmade compounds can be harmful to people.