Even if your water looks and tastes fine, it may still contain harmful chemicals such as arsenic. Arsenic is naturally found in lots of Maine wells. It is especially harmful for little kids and babies.
The only way to know if your water is safe is to test it. The test takes about ten minutes to do. Watch a video on how to test your water.
Welcome to the Maine CDC, Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS), Genealogist Researcher Program. Genealogical researchers who would like to obtain a genealogical researcher identification card for the purpose of requesting non-certified copies* of public or restricted vital records, including access to DRVS Online Index Portal, may apply to become a member.
The Database Application for Vital Events, known as DAVE, consists of (4) four different modules, the Electronic Death Registration System, the Electronic Fetal Death Registration System (EFDRS), the Electronic Birth Registration System (EBRS) and the Electronic Marriage Registration System (EMRS). Records of death, fetal death, birth and marriage may be created, registered, and issued from the system. DAVE contains:
Focal Point Crop and Scale
Maine's nine Public Health Districts are geographic areas that work to improve public health in the state. Each district is made up of one or more counties.
Most of us have some level of PFAS in our blood. We are exposed to PFAS through contaminated food and water, household products or working or living in or near facilities where PFAS are made or used.
Health effects linked to PFAS include:
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and the Maine CDC issued a "Do Not Eat" advisory for deer taken in the greater Fairfield area. A "Do Not Eat" advisory is a recommendation to not eat game harvested within a specified area issued in response to a possible health concern.
Deer and wild turkey harvested in the "Do Not Eat" advisory area should not be eaten. The current "Do Not Eat" advisory consists of three areas:
One way people may be exposed to PFAS is by eating food grown on land impacted by PFAS. This includes livestock raised on land impacted by PFAS. At some farms in Maine, sludge (also known as biosolids) with PFAS was applied to farmland. This introduced PFAS into agricultural soils, which may then be taken up by crops and livestock. PFAS can then end up in products such as milk, meat, and vegetables. PFAS-contaminated water used for irrigation can be another way for PFAS to enter agricultural systems.
Federal or state agencies may have been testing water for PFAS in private wells near or at your home. Testing for PFAS is usually only done when there is reason to think there is the possibility of well water contamination. Testing for these chemicals in well water is expensive and only done by a few laboratories.
If you are concerned about whether these chemicals are in your well water, contact one of our toxicologists to discuss whether testing your well water makes sense. Please call 866-292-3474 (tollfree in Maine), 207-287-4311, or Maine Relay 711.
PFAS refers to a family of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS have been used in many household and industrial products since the 1940s. These chemicals have been used to make products repel water and resist stains and grease. PFAS have been used in carpets, fabric, clothing, food packaging, pots and pans, and personal care products. PFAS are also key ingredients in some fire-fighting foams. Some PFAS chemicals are no longer used in manufacturing.
