AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. – PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, has become a topic of concern in the West Plains and Airway Heights over the last decade.
The area’s proximity to both Fairchild AFB and Spokane International Airport are a potential reason. The West Plains Water Coalition’s website says people in the area have tested at nearly 60 times the national average of PFAS in their bodies, hypothesizing the water contaminants from fire extinguishing fluid as the culprit.
While all the tap water in the area is now considered safe to drink, those using Airway Heights tap water pre-2017 are at elevated risk, as are those in the West Plains area using private water wells.
On Monday, the coalition hosted Dr. Bob Lutz, a former SRHD official, to talk about the potential dangers, many of which are yet to be discovered.
“I think it’s a growing concern and I think we are still learning a lot,” Dr. Lutz said. “We have a growing body of evidence to support the idea that there are associations between PFAS exposure and a number of health-related issues.”
The meeting focused on how to approach your doctor to talk about potential PFAS exposure, and what the potential harmful impacts are.
“For both the individual and their provider, it’s trying to get uncomfortable with the unknown, which is not always an easy thing to do,” Dr. Lutz said. “Historically people have gone to their providers looking for explanations and answers, and I think right now this is one of those evolving issues where maybe we have more questions than we actually have answers.”
You can find more information on the coalition’s website, where they plan on posting the meeting in its entirety.
