BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A harmful group of chemicals called PFAS were just found in game meat in Maine – and experts say Vermonters should be on guard, too.
Between deli meat and fresh deer, the decision is a no-brainer for lifelong hunter Matt Breton of Charleston.
“The meat itself is very healthy. And then to me, there are a lot of health benefits to the pursuit of that game,” said Breton.
But hunters like Breton might get more than they bargained for this season.
In Maine, some deer and wild turkey meat just tested positive for PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
The chemicals are used in commercial and industrial processes and are known to cause cancer and developmental delays in humans.
In Vermont, there’s no current testing for PFAS in game meat.
In an email, the state told WCAX:
“Currently the agency is focused on the immediate dangers including the impact on drinking water. We will continue to monitor the situation and work with partners to determine if there is a need for an advisory for deer or other wildlife.”
Vermont’s ongoing testing found PFAS in water systems and land sites across the state. Once there, experts say they’re quick to contaminate wildlife.
“If a deer is in an area where there is PFAS contamination and they’re consuming food or drinking water that has PFAS in it, it can then make its way into that animal’s body and build up,” said Kate Crawford of Middlebury College.
Vermont has cracked down on PFAS use in recent years. But if they’re already in the environment, the chemicals are nearly impossible to remove and can take one thousand years to degrade.
And there’s little hunters can do to test their game meat.
“This is a largely invisible problem to a hunter with a specific piece of meat in front of that,” said Crawford.
Still, Crawford says hunters can take proactive measures to avoid pfas.
You can research the PFAS contamination history of your hunting sites and avoid eating the liver of your game which can contain higher levels of PFAS.
As for Breton, he’s vigilant about hunting sites and which parts of the animal he eats.
But the fear of PFAS won’t keep him from the forest.
“I think you have to put that risk in the context of all the other risks we have in life,” said Breton.
In addition to Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, and Wisconsin also have ‘do not eat’ advisories in place for contaminated deer.