WINONA, Minn. – The first Winona County tests for PFAS toxins in public water systems turned out negative. The tests, in Winona Goodview, covered water for roughly 20,000 people. More tests are planned elsewhere in the county. There is growing concern globally about carcinogenic PFAS chemicals that were widely used beginning in the 1950s in a wide range of products that ranged from Teflon-coated pans to fire-suppressants. The chemicals are persistent and don’t diminish with time. Resulting maladies include high cholesterol, liver failure, damaged immune response, thyroid disease and cancer.
