A group of Torbay residents have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that Transport Canada failed to take appropriate action to prevent their wells from being contaminated with so-called “forever chemicals.”

The lead plaintiff is Eddie Sheerr, best known as NTV’s chief meteorologist, whose family has been drinking bottled water for months because their well water is contaminated with chemicals perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl, which are used in fire suppression foam and non-stick coatings for cooking.

The situation dates back years, if not decades, stemming from firefighter training on the St. John’s International Airport property.

Transport Canada cleaned up the site, but the lawsuit claims they didn’t go far enough. Testing has found higher than approved levels of the chemicals in a number of wells.

Sheerr told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that the chemicals don’t break down in the environment, and can accumulate in the body, leading to greater risk of developing kidney, testicular, endometrial, ovarian and thyroid cancer, among others.

“So the more you consume, the more it ends up in your body and then you have the potential for the negative health impacts down the line. That’s the very scary part,” says Sheerr, noting the potential health impacts “and then you have the potential property de-value impacts.”

The lawsuit has not yet been certified, nor have the allegations been tested in court.