According to West Virginia Public Radio, PFAS “forever chemicals” have been found in 130 of our state’s drinking water supply systems. The network recently reported that the Eastern Panhandle is a “PFAS ‘hot zone,’ with unsafe levels found in 21 raw water supplies.”

A federal study from last year similarly found the toxins in a third of the state water systems tested, especially along the Ohio River and in the Eastern Panhandle. These chemicals never go away naturally, and they cause a long list of serious health problems — including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease.

A bill in the legislature now, Senate Bill 485 (also House Bill 3189), would take some important steps to start dealing with the problem. It has strong bipartisan support and a dozen cosponsors from both parties.

We need to let our legislators know that this bill is important to the health of West Virginians!

Charlotte Baker-Shenk, of Shepherdstown