BRENDA HAMPTON, brendahampton8455@gmail.com,
Hampton is the subject of the documentary film “The Angel of Alabama.”
She is involved with SAFE — Scientists, Activists, and Families for Cancer-Free Environments, which has announced a protest at EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 20. The demonstration will feature families, firefighters, and military members from around the country who have been sickened by a host of environmental toxins.
Her profile on the group’s website notes: “She remembers puzzling over the number of dialysis centers that popped up over time. It seemed like they were on every corner like dollar stores. Her own mother was one of many area residents who experienced renal failure and had to undergo dialysis. So Brenda gave her mother her left kidney. Eventually, Brenda developed problems with her remaining kidney.
“Now, years later, after learning that the water in her community has been poisoned with PFAS chemicals for decades, Brenda can’t help but wonder about the connection. Is the polluted water related to the kidney problems? What about all the cancer in the area? After the local water authority told residents not to drink the water because tests found high levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), Brenda formed a group called Concerned Citizens of WMEL Water Authority.
“What does this have to do with McDonald’s? Well, one reason PFAS are manufactured in Brenda’s community is to make food packaging grease resistant for companies like McDonald’s. A chemical plant owned by a company called Daikin makes PFAS upriver from Lawrence County’s drinking water intake valve — and pollutes the water in the process.”
See recent AP report which quotes Hampton and outlines some of the scientific findings regarding PFAS and fast food wrappers.
Also available for interviews:
SUSAN WIND, susan@
Wind is the lead organizer for the new grassroots group SAFE. See recent IPA news release: “Activist Moms Confront EPA’s ‘Criminally Negligent’ on Sept. 20.”