USAF ‘Accidentally’ Leaks Toxic Chemicals Into Colorado Sewer System

A US air base in Colorado has admitted to ‘ accidentally’ releasing a huge amount of highly toxic chemicals into the sewer system of the nearby city of Colorado Springs. Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado said on Wednesday that it unintentionally released over 150,000 gallons (570,000 liters) of tainted water to the city’s sewers without having a clear understanding of the potential health hazards. The air force said the tainted water was released from a storage tank sometime in the past week. The cause of the leaks and the risks to local communities were being investigated. Press TV reports: The water contained perfluorinated compounds, commonly referred to as PFCs, which may cause to prostate, kidney and testicular cancer, along with other illnesses, the base said. PFCs are used in the firefighting foam which is widely used at military bases. Steve Berry, a spokesman for Colorado Springs Utilities, said the toxic waste didn’t contaminate the drinking water. Although the water passed through a treatment plant, the danger was still there as the plant was not meant to remove PFCs, according to Berry. The leak occurred sometime in the past week, the Air Force said, adding that the storage tank that [...]

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