Bucks and Montgomery County residents who live near military bases had higher levels of four harmful chemicals—per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS—in their blood than the typical American, according to preliminary findings released Monday by federal health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Study participants lived near the Horsham Air Guard Station and former Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, and the Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster site, where firefighting foam was widely used (and has since seen a bill to ban it). In May 2024, NBC10 reported that the chemicals were being studied by Dr. Resa Jones, the CDC’s principal investigator, on behalf of Air Force veteran Joe McGrath, who served on Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove for 34 years.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier this month that “nearly all adults and children who live near the military bases had detectable concentrations of seven different compounds”. The chemical compounds are associated with higher levels of cholesterol, which is linked to increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Researchers stressed that no definitive conclusions have been made and will present more details at a conference in August.

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