Swedish Air Force to switch to PFAS-free firefighting foam

A Swedish Air Force’s JAS 39 Gripen jet fighter in 2011. (Patric Soderstrom/AP)
A Swedish Air Force’s JAS 39 Gripen jet fighter in 2011. The country’s air force will be switching its fire fighting foam later this year. (Patric Soderstrom/AP)
  • The Swedish Air Force will replace its PFAS fire fighting foam it uses at its bases with a more environmentally friendly one.
  • PFAS are man-made chemicals that can contaminate water supplies and don’t easily biodegrade.
  • Just this month, a court in Blekinge county said residents whose drinking water was contaminated by the chemicals for years have the right to compensation.
Radio Sweden report

For more on the air force’s decisions and the environmental impacts of the foam, listen to Radio Sweden’s full report.

Related stories from around the North:

Canada: Thawing permafrost in Canada’s Northwest Territories releasing acid that’s breaking down minerals: study, CBC News

Finland: EU Commission urges Finland to do more to fight water pollution from agriculture, Yle News

Russia: Norilsk, Arctic Russia is world’s largest sulfur dioxide emissions hotspot: report, The Independent Barents Observer

Sweden: Many towns in Sweden seek funds to clean up polluted sites, Radio Sweden

United States: Alaska remote diesel generators win exemption from pollution rule, Alaska Public Media

Radio Sweden

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