Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a draft report examining the health effects of exposure to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA):
“Last month, I wrote to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt calling for the public release of this water contamination study after it was reported that he was blocking its release. After he responded that he would not block its release, I then called on HHS Secretary Alex Azar to publicly release this study.
Today, the draft report of the study has been released to the public. As I said to both Administrator Pruitt and Secretary Azar, this is a matter of public health and safety. Based on this information, I encourage federal, state, and local environmental regulators to examine whether they are appropriately communicating the risks presented by and adequately addressing the presence of PFOS and PFOA in drinking water. We must ensure agencies at all levels are using the most reliable data and best available science to ensure our drinking water remains safe.
These chemicals have been reported in the groundwater at least 126 military installations, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Congress has now prohibited the Department of Defense from using these chemicals.
This study will provide our federal, state, and local environmental regulators the information they need to make sure drinking our water remains safe, and I thank HHS for publicly releasing this draft report. I will continue to work with our community to keep Dayton’s water safe.”
###