Clone of Aroostook — District 8
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Maine's nine Public Health Districts are geographic areas that work to improve public health in the state. Each district is made up of one or more counties.
PFAS and Health Impacts
Most of us have some level of PFAS in our blood. We are exposed to PFAS through contaminated food and water, household products or working or living in or near facilities where PFAS are made or used.
Health effects linked to PFAS include:
PFAS and Wild Game
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and the Maine CDC issued a "Do Not Eat" advisory for deer taken in the greater Fairfield area. A "Do Not Eat" advisory is a recommendation to not eat game harvested within a specified area issued in response to a possible health concern.
Advisory Area
Deer and wild turkey harvested in the "Do Not Eat" advisory area should not be eaten. The current "Do Not Eat" advisory consists of three areas:
PFAS and Agriculture
One way people may be exposed to PFAS is by eating food grown on land impacted by PFAS. This includes livestock raised on land impacted by PFAS. At some farms in Maine, sludge (also known as biosolids) with PFAS was applied to farmland. This introduced PFAS into agricultural soils, which may then be taken up by crops and livestock. PFAS can then end up in products such as milk, meat, and vegetables. PFAS-contaminated water used for irrigation can be another way for PFAS to enter agricultural systems.
PFAS and Well Water
Federal or state agencies may have been testing water for PFAS in wells near or at your home. Testing for PFAS is usually only done when there is reason to think there is the possibility of well water contamination. Testing for these chemicals in well water is expensive and only done by a few laboratories.
If you are concerned about whether these chemicals are in your well water, contact one of our toxicologists to discuss whether testing your well water makes sense. Please call 866-292-3474 (tollfree in Maine), 207-287-4311, or Maine Relay 711.
PFAS in Maine
PFAS refers to a family of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS have been used in many household and industrial products since the 1940s. These chemicals have been used to make products repel water and resist stains and grease. PFAS have been used in carpets, fabric, clothing, food packaging, pots and pans, and personal care products. PFAS are also key ingredients in some fire-fighting foams. Some PFAS chemicals are no longer used in manufacturing.
Cold-related Illness
Prolonged exposure to the cold can be dangerous and life-threatening. During Maine's long winters, people are at risk of cold-related illnesses such as hypothermia and frostbite. People most likely to be exposed to dangerous cold include those who lack shelter, work outdoors, or live in homes with inadequate heat. Seniors, infants, people with chronic cardiovascular or lung conditions, people using alcohol or drugs, and people with cognitive impairments or mental health conditions are at increased risk.
Pollen
Pollen refers to the tiny grains or seeds released by flowering plants, trees, weeds, and grasses while they are blooming. Levels of pollen in the air are highest in spring and fall.
Exposure to pollen can cause allergic reactions like hay fever (allergic rhinitis), which results in sneezing, runny nose, and congestion; or allergic conjunctivitis, which causes red, watery, itchy eyes. Pollen can also worsen the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Workers and Heat Illness
Cool Down & Drink Up To Beat Maine Heat
While most Mainers don’t associate our state with extreme heat, hot days are increasingly more common, and it is important to be prepared.