BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 19, 2022
Until early this year, many Mainers had likely never heard of PFAS. But when detection of the chemicals on a central Maine farm prompted the owners to cease operations, suddenly PFAS — short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — became part of our collective lexicon. For many in the state, it’s also created a shared anxiety. As state agencies grapple with the growing reality of just how pervasive the chemicals are in Maine, residents want answers and assurances that steps are being taken to safeguard their health. Though Maine is far ahead of other states in establishing accepted PFAS levels in milk and testing other foods, solid answers are few.