PFAS Contamination Persists in New Mexico Wildlife

A new state report details widespread chemical accumulation at Holloman Lake dating back to 1994.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Environmental

Isometric editorial illustration of an arid desert wetland with sparse vegetation and cracked mud banks. — A New Mexico Environment Department report confirms long-term PFAS accumulation in wildlife and plants at Holloman Lake due to historical military chemical runoff. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A January 8, 2025, report from the New Mexico Environment Department documents widespread PFAS contamination within the Holloman Lake ecosystem. Researchers recorded significant chemical concentrations in local wildlife and plant life, attributing the levels to historical wastewater and fire-fighting foam runoff from Holloman Air Force Base.

Why it matters

The findings highlight the persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in desert ecosystems, illustrating how chemical transport from military infrastructure impacts biological health decades later. This research provides a critical baseline for understanding long-term environmental toxic exposure in the state.

The study analyzed 17 PFAS across 23 vertebrate species, recording 30,000 ng/g of PFOS in saltcedar samples. These levels reflect environmental contamination extending to soil 900 meters from the shoreline.

The players

New Mexico Environment Department

The state agency responsible for environmental protection, which led the ecological PFAS research study.

Holloman Air Force Base

The military installation whose historic fire-suppression activities and wastewater discharge were identified as sources of contamination.

The details

Researchers identified liver cell hypertrophy, spleen and adrenal hyperplasia, and stomach ulcers in animals during postmortem examinations. The contamination originates from aqueous film-forming foam, a chemical mixture historically used for fire suppression at Holloman Air Force Base that was discharged into local wetlands. The state's research also uncovered historical PFAS presence in a white-footed mouse specimen collected as far back as 1994.

1994: A white-footed mouse collected shows historical PFAS exposure.
2024: Kangaroo rats are collected from the Holloman Lake area for testing.
January 8, 2025: The New Mexico Environment Department publishes the ecological research findings.

The Tech Race

This study updates the timeline of environmental legacy contamination by confirming ongoing PFAS accumulation since at least 1994. It adds to a growing body of research investigating the long-term ecological consequences of fire-suppressant runoff in arid military landscapes.

The research serves as a cautionary analysis for those interested in the environmental health of desert wetlands near military sites. While the current study focused on vertebrate wildlife, it signals a need for ongoing monitoring of regional groundwater and local ecosystem stability.

The takeaway

The study demonstrates that PFAS chemicals remain present in ecosystem tissue for decades, necessitating further controlled research into the direct health impacts on wildlife. Readers can track the situation by monitoring future reports from the New Mexico Environment Department regarding site remediation.