A recent study published in Environmental Research by a team of researchers from The University of New Mexico’s Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) has revealed alarming levels of chemical contamination in wild birds and mammals at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo, N.M. The study found that PFAS concentrations in 23 species of birds and mammals averaged in the tens of thousands of parts per billion, which is significantly higher than previously reported levels in wildlife. This is particularly concerning given that thousands of dairy cattle in Clovis, N.M. had to be destroyed due to milk contamination at less than six parts per billion.
The research focused on the area around Holloman Lake, which is located between Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands National Park. The lake is part of a system of waste-water catchment ponds created by the Air Force and is the only wetland in the region, making it a popular habitat for wildlife. According to MSB Director and Professor of Biology Christopher Witt, Holloman is one of the most important wetlands in New Mexico for migratory waterbirds, with over 100 species and tens of thousands of individuals using the habitats annually. The wetlands are also heavily used by people for recreation and hunting.
2024-02-25 18:00:05
Original from phys.org
