Florida Advocates Demand Action on PFAS Pollution

Cancer Survivors and Advocates Meet with Governor’s Office to Address Toxic Exposure Crisis in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FL – In a powerful meeting with the Office of Policy and Budget under Governor Ron DeSantis, cancer survivors, families, and environmental experts gathered to voice urgent concerns about Florida’s water quality and its impact on public health.

Among those in attendance was Cheryl Jozsa, a 15-year advocate from Manatee County. Jozsa lost her sister, Terri Jewell, to leukemia at the age of 38, following exposure to toxins at Bayshore High School. After discovering that several of her sister’s classmates had also developed cancer, Jozsa began collecting medical histories and enlisting professionals—epidemiologists, toxicologists, biostatisticians, and geologists—to review the data. Their conclusion: the environmental risks were real and deeply concerning.

Jozsa traced contaminants to a nearby site a mile north of the campus, where a former machine shop had polluted the water. "I speak for victims and families across the state," she said. "The beaches we once loved are now littered with marine carcasses, the water too toxic to swim in, and the air unsafe to breathe. It’s time for Florida’s leadership to stop dismissing these issues, recognize the connections, and take immediate action to clean up our environment and hold polluters accountable."

Connecting Diagnoses and Environmental Exposure

Emerald Cromwell, a nurse from Pinellas County and environmental advocate, also shared her personal story. Diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC)—a rare and aggressive cancer—Cromwell was devastated to learn that two acquaintances from St. Petersburg had been diagnosed with the same disease. Her best friend since kindergarten, Shannon Jagger, also passed away from ACC.

Motivated by tragedy, Cromwell has committed herself to raising awareness, funding research, and advocating for safer communities.

Experts and Survivors Demand Action

Also present were Stel Bailey, a cancer survivor and nationally recognized advocate; Jeff Dubitsky, father of five and public health advocate; Hydrogeologist David Woodhouse; as well as several nurses and environmental scientists. Together, they urged state officials to prioritize environmental remediation and public education around toxic chemical exposure.

The group called for urgent measures to address PFAS contamination, including:

• A ban on new PFAS variants and chemical classes

• Enforceable water quality standards for total PFAS

• Mandatory PFAS release reporting

• Remediation of contaminated water supplies, especially near military bases

“We need better policies to safeguard Florida communities from inevitable toxic exposure,” said Stel Bailey, executive director of Fight for Zero. “Allowing corporations to pollute without accountability has long-term consequences. The acceptable level of toxins in our environment should be set as close to zero as possible.”

Proposing a Path Forward: A Statewide Task Force

To foster trust and transparency, Fight for Zero proposed creating a Statewide Environmental Health Task Force, comprised of citizens, scientists, and government officials. The goal is to unite Florida’s communities and lawmakers in addressing the growing crisis of polluted waterways, toxic exposure, and the resulting health impacts.

The task force would focus on:

• Promoting transparency and public engagement

• Increasing health and environmental education

• Supporting independent scientific research

• Recommending policy solutions to prevent further harm

As the conversation around environmental health grows, Fight for Zero remains committed to empowering communities, influencing policy, and holding those responsible accountable—because every Floridian deserves clean water, clean air, and a safe place to live.

fight4zero@gmail.com