Why did OAG file the lawsuit?

To make AFFF designers, manufacturers, marketers and sellers pay for the damage done to Guam’s environment. The OAG is seeking to have the defendants pay the cost of investigating, testing, monitoring and cleaning up AFFF chemicals on the island.

What is PFAS?

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) is a chemical that causes damage to our health and the environment. PFAS is a category of chemical compounds, including, but not limited to: *Perflyorooctanyl Sulfate (PFOS); and *Perflyoroocatanoic Acid (PFOA).

Characteristics of PFAS:

• Mobile: Once introduced into the environment, it quickly spreads because it easily dissolves in water.
• Persistent: Because of their multiple florine-carbon bonds, it does not breakdown naturally..
• Bio-accumulate and bio-magnify: Very slowly removed from the body, builds up over time.

What is a Health Advisory Level (HAL)?

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) it is the amount of drinking water contamination, which if exceeded, may result in adverse health effects.

What are the long-term effects of PFAS exposure?

PFOS and PFOA are associated with:

• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• High cholesterol
• Decrease in antibody response to vaccines
• Liver damage
• Pregnancy induced hypertension and preeclampsia
• Thyroid disease

 

Download PFAS Fact Sheet (click here)

Documents
Date - Document Title

July 3, 2019 (Click here)

Prutehi I Hanom Act (Click here)

August 8, 2019
Status Report (Click here)

September 5, 2019

PFAS Complaint (Click here)

December 20, 2019
Status Report (Click here)

October 28, 2020
Status Report (Click here)