Cuomo must sign Norlite bill GOP characterized by 'unrepentant cowardice'
Gov. Andrew Cuomo must sign the bipartisan Norlite bill without revisions. Our state Legislature voted unanimously to pass this bill because they understand the serious risks of burning toxic firefighting foam at the Norlite hazardous waste incinerator in Cohoes. Gutting this bill could lead to another regulatory disaster.
Perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls, known as PFAS, are found in aqueous filmforming foam, or AFFF. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that PFAS circulates all over the planet. PFAS, which is a danger to human health, is found in arctic seawater and our food. PFAS accumulates in our bodies. It crosses the placenta and enters breast milk so infants receive more exposure. Norlite pollutes the entire region, not just Cohoes. I live in North Central Troy, just a mile from Norlite.
Here are tools I use to protect myself from PFAS and pollutants:
I have a $40 carbon water filter. Britta/pur are popular and the replaceable filters last 100 gallons. It’s cheaper and safer than bottled water. In a study of 259 water bottles, 242 were contaminated with microplastics.
I put a six-month, $45 carbon filter on my showerhead.
I also attached a 25-inch by 25-inch air filter on a box fan. A $17, 90-day filter is rated to remove particulates and smog.
The total of these investments is $1.07 per day.
In 2018 and 2019, the Cuomo administration let Norlite burn more than 2 million pounds of toxic firefighting foam. The Capital Region deserves a safe environment. Cuomo needs to ensure this never happens again by signing the Norlite bill as passed by the Legislature into law. Alexis Goldsmith Troy