PFAS advisory issued for local fish after foam spill at Brunswick airport

A warning on eating fish in the Brunswick area has been issued by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention following a spill of PFAS-laden foam at the Brunswick airport this week.

The malfunctioning system released a total of about 1,600 gallons of firefighting foam, mixed with 60,000 gallons of water, into hangar 4 at the airport in Brunswick Landing on Monday. As some of the foam entered the stormwater drainage system, it was discharged into local waterways.

toxic foam spill

Toxic foam that spilled at Brunswick airport was due for removal next month

While the PFAS are not expected to affect drinking water in the area, the toxic chemicals can affect fish living in four bodies of water located on and around the former naval air station in Brunswick. According to officials, Friday’s advisory is based on testing that occurred before the Monday leak.

As of the Friday advisory, high levels of PFAS were detected in fish living in Mare Brook, Merriconeag Stream, Picnic Pond and Site 8 Stream.

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It is recommended to avoid eating any fish caught from Mare Brook on the eastern side of the runway to Liberty Crossing, as well as any fish caught in any section of Merriconeag Stream, Picnic Pond or Site 8 Stream. The east side of the runway is likely to be the most impacted by Monday’s foam spill.

Current advisories indicate that one can safely consume up to six meals a year of any fish caught in Mare Brook from Coffin Ice Pond to the western edge of the runway.

The Maine CDC released a list of PFAS advisories earlier this year, with at least 16 bodies of water affected by limited consumption recommendations.