On October 2, an airplane flight took a disastrous turn as a 75-year-old World War II-era B-17 bomber, struggling after takeoff, crashed into the de-icing facility at Bradley International Airport and caught on fire. In the weeks since the accident, concerns have been raised about the foam used by firefighters to extinguish the fire. The foam contains perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), an extremely toxic group of synthetic chemicals. Nearby rivers and water sources have shown signs of contamination. This has raised concern among the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Windsor Department of Health. Active measures are being taken to contain the toxic foam.
Shortly after the B-17 crash, PFAS-containing foam was sprayed on the wreckage of the plane, following airport safety protocol. PFAS can cause fertility issues, increased cholesterol, changes in the immune system, increased risk of certain cancers, changes in fetal development, liver damage, increased risk of thyroid disease, and increased risk of asthma when exposed to the body for a long period of time, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs. PFAS are the most dangerous to children, since they can have large impacts on child development.
The director of the Windsor Health Department, Dr. Michael Pepe, said that the foam is suspected to have flowed into a local brook near the airport and that local residents have reported seeing foam floating above two bodies of water in Windsor: Rainbow Brook and Watts Pond. Officials are concerned about whether the PFAS reached the Farmington River, which is connected to Rainbow Brook. DEEP has initiated water sample testing in these bodies of water; however, the results have yet to be published.
DEEP, alongside the Windsor Health Department, has also hired private contractors to scrape foam from the surface of Rainbow Creek and Watts Pond and set up water barriers along Rainbow Creek to prevent the further spread of the chemicals. The Windsor Health Department has been working closely with DEEP to contain the foam. Dr. Pepe said that DEEP is “the leading authority” on PFAS clean up.
Because of delays in water sample testing, it is still not known whether the foam has contaminated the Farmington River. But no reports of surface foam have been submitted by residents near the Farmington River. If the PFAS reached the Farmington River, they could be carried into Massachusetts and surrounding areas, contaminating more waterways and potentially causing hazardous health effects to residents who ingest the water. Touching the water, though, should be fine, as scientific research has shown that PFASs cannot easily enter the body through the skin.
Dr. Pepe reassured that, as of now, PFASs are being contained. Furthermore, he stated that the Windsor Health Department has posted advisories at every public access point to caution residents against coming in contact with the foam, as well as an advisory against eating any of the fish. Although short contact with PFAS is relativity harmless, the town stressed that these advisories should be followed by all citizens to ensure their safety and the safety of the community.
