Is it safe to eat oysters or clams from waters near a fire training site?
No. Shellfish filter water and concentrate PFAS from firefighting foam runoff.
What's actually in it
Bivalves (oysters, clams, mussels, scallops) feed by filtering water. Whatever is in the water ends up concentrated in the shellfish. Firefighting foam (AFFF) used at fire training sites, airports, and military bases has leaked PFAS into nearby waters for decades. The chemicals don't degrade and accumulate in sediment and in the animals that live there.
A recreational fisher pulling oysters or clams out of a bay near these sites is getting a highly concentrated dose compared to open-ocean seafood.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Integr Environ Assess Manag evaluated risks associated with consumption of bivalves from PFAS-affected AFFF sites. Shellfish from these waters had PFAS concentrations hundreds of times higher than shellfish from open-ocean sources. Regular consumers (more than monthly) exceeded tolerable intake by significant margins.
State health departments publish PFAS advisories for specific waterways. Check before harvesting or buying from small local operations. Commercial shellfish from offshore or certified clean-water farms generally test low. Oysters from Washington State, Maine, and Prince Edward Island tend to be cleaner than ones from near-industrial coastal areas. If unsure, the EPA maintains maps of known AFFF contamination sites: a quick check saves a questionable meal.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Risks associated with consumption of bivalves from PFAS-affected aqueous film-forming foam sites. | Integr Environ Assess Manag | 2026 |
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