Transport Canada expressed worries about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as forever chemicals, as early as the 1980s, according to documents obtained through an access-to-information request. PFAS encompass thousands of chemicals, some of which have been associated with various health issues such as cancer, hypertension, fatty liver disease, and diabetes.
For many years, Transport Canada, in collaboration with the Department of National Defence (DND) and the National Research Council of Canada, conducted firefighter training exercises at airports nationwide using aqueous film-forming foams containing PFAS. While these foams were effective in combating jet fuel fires, their use resulted in groundwater contamination with PFAS at multiple locations.
Leading a proposed class-action lawsuit is Alex Templeton, a partner at the McInnes Cooper law firm in St. John’s, focusing on the contamination of drinking water wells near several airports in Newfoundland. The lawsuit, spearheaded by Eddie and Susan Sheerr, homeowners approached by Transport Canada for well testing, aims to attain certification from a judge to proceed.
Templeton uncovered various Transport Canada documents through access-to-information requests, including a 1984 report indicating high toxicity levels in effluent from firefighter training sites. The effluent, which contained surfactants (now known as PFAS), was identified as a significant source of pollution.
Despite Transport Canada instituting effluent containment measures in 1979, concerns arose about their adequacy by 1990, particularly in addressing winter conditions’ impact on run-off. Transport Canada, in response, mentioned that training activities adhered to environmental practices at the time and that PFAS contamination was not recognized then.
The reports have also sparked concerns in North Bay, where efforts are underway to clean up a site at the airport contaminated with PFAS. The firefighting foams infiltrated groundwater, ultimately affecting the municipal drinking water source. The proposed class-action lawsuit filed by Mann Lawyers in North Bay points to DND’s awareness of PFAS contamination exceeding health guidelines in 2011.
Residents like Liza Vandermeer express dismay over the lack of action following early concerns raised in the 1984 reports. Questions arise about communication lapses between Transport Canada and National Defence regarding the PFAS contamination issue.