Jan 27, 2025
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico is breaking records but not in a good way. The state's Environment Department found unprecedented levels of “forever chemicals” in a state lake. The Department of Health issued a warning to residents, especially hunters. "New Mexico, wake up. We got to do something about PFAS contamination,” said James Kenney, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department. Story continues below Legislature: Bill would require NM university board of regents members to get ethics and financial training Crime: FBI investigates two marijuana-growing operations in Torrance County News: Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman speaks on actions taken by President Trump on immigration The New Mexico Environment Department released a report showing one of the state lakes is setting a world record for the highest levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in plants and wildlife. "That's terrible news for New Mexico,” said Kenny. The contamination of the forever chemical was found at Holloman Lake, a wastewater reservoir for Holloman Air Force Base, located near Alamogordo and close to White Sands National Park. "The bad part about PFAS is that they are known carcinogens at this point. They can cause cancer. They can cause reproductive health issues in both men and women,” said Kenney. Kenney said it's animals like kangaroo rats that unintentionally poison the ecosystem. He went on to say the death of the small animal would exponentially contaminate the soil. "And by just simply being there and eating the insects and the grasses and being around that water, they're picking up these pfas levels,” said Kenney. They looked at the amount of PFAS in the flora and fauna, and while they expected to see the chemicals, "What we didn't expect is to break or hold a world record that nobody wants to hold,” said Kenney. And while the lake has been closed to hunters since last year, the chemicals could affect those who have hunted in the area between 2010 and 2024. "Here we're talking about you hunt wild game, you prepare it, you eat a dime size amount of that meat, and you're exposed to a lifetime of PFAS,” said Kenney. The department is also warning hunters not to eat any wild game that may be associated with Holloman Lake migratory paths. They have documented foams containing PFAS on the shoreline of the lake, which they said is spreading chemicals. NMED is introducing a two-bill package this legislative session. It aims to reduce the risk of PFAS and hazardous waste contamination to New Mexicans. ...read more read less
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