FIGHT FOR ZERO'S IMPACT

Harnessing the Power of Collective Action

We are a nonprofit organization that was founded by cancer survivors and their families. Our work in reducing harmful exposures and fighting against polluting industries has gained international recognition. We rely solely on the support of our community and are always on the lookout for volunteers who are willing to contribute their time and skills for the greater good.

We aim to inspire and empower individuals, communities, and businesses to join us in protecting the environment and promoting well-being. We strongly believe that everyone has a part to play in creating a better future. Through partnerships with national and regional organizations, we share knowledge and foster collaboration. Together, we are committed to advocating for a healthier world and building stronger communities.

✓ Conducted extensive educational campaigns, reaching out to hundreds of thousands of individuals to raise awareness about the risks associated with exposure to manmade chemicals.

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✓ Aided communities impacted by pollution through independent tests, research, providing filters, and planting pollution-absorbing plants, which reduced harmful exposures.

✓ Collaborated with science and health experts to conduct research that is vital in securing funds for cleanup and policies to reduce harmful exposures.

✓ We, as parents, have strived to safeguard our children from harmful expsoures by initiating various initiatives that emphasize the importance of filtration systems in schools.

Satellite Beach Cancer Cluster Investigation

In 2018, the Department of Defense released a report stating that PFAS contamination was found in several active installations in Brevard County, including the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Patrick Air Force Base. Among these locations, Patrick AFB had the third highest levels of PFAS in the country, with 4.3 million ppt detected in groundwater. Fight for Zero organized town hall meetings to address concerns about water quality and health issues, including one featuring Erin Brockovich. With their assistance, important health data was collected, leading to a state health assessment that showed a significantly higher cancer rate in two zip codes within Brevard County. Through their efforts, cancer advocates successfully obtained federal funding for contamination cleanup through the NDAA. They also testified before Congress in Washington, DC, highlighting the harmful effects of military contamination on service members, their families, and the surrounding communities.

South Patrick Shores FUDS Designation

The South Patrick Shores and Satellite Beach area was once used as a landfill by the Department of Defense. Later, a developer purchased the land and constructed houses on it. Fight for Zero volunteers conducted a year-long investigation into concerns about buried debris and disease clusters. While using metal detectors in yards, the volunteers discovered various items such as burnt rounds, vintage Coca-Cola bottles, and parts of airplanes and jeeps. The team documented their investigation through social media, photography, and video, raising awareness about health concerns, potential vapor intrusion into homes, and contamination of wells in the area. Their efforts were recognized as the top story of the year and featured on the front cover of the December 2018 issue of Florida Today. Following a trip to Washington DC, the team successfully obtained a Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) designation and a federal investigation in 2019.

Filtering Drinking Water in Children's Schools

In 2019, Fight for Zero volunteers took action to investigate the safety of drinking water in Florida schools. They sent public record requests to 67 school districts and 42 colleges. This project lasted for six months and aimed to raise awareness about schools ensuring clean water for children. One of the project's goals was to bring attention to the hidden dangers in children's drinking water, especially those exposed to lead pipes, PFAS chemicals, and schools near industrial sites. Florida lawmakers have made multiple efforts to pass legislation aimed at filtering the drinking water in schools following our investigation. A recent EPA survey discovered that Florida has the highest number of lead pipes among all states, four years after our initial findings. Numerous organizations within the state are now backing the initiatives to strengthen protection measures.

closer to zero harmful chemicals in drinking water, food, and lakes

First National Drinking Water Standard in Decades

Stel Bailey tirelessly fought to remove PFAS from drinking water after her family's cancer diagnosis. In 2022, she was successful in getting the EPA to introduce the first-ever national drinking water standard since 1996 to restrict PFAS. The new standards are stricter than the EPA's previous suggestions in 2016, as they now acknowledge the greater health risks associated with PFAS exposures. The proposed rule establishes a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 ppt from 70 ppt. Bailey encountered opposition from government officials in Florida, where high levels of PFAS were discovered. Her advocacy resulted in threats against her family and violations of their civil rights. Despite these obstacles, Bailey remained committed to her cause and gained worldwide recognition as an advocate for environmental justice.

Public Drinking Fountain Testing Project

A grant-funded project was carried out to support Fight for Zero in collecting information on PFAS contamination in public drinking water fountains in Brevard County, Florida. Citizen scientists volunteered to test the water in the entire county for 45 different PFAS compounds. These compounds are known to stay in the environment and have been linked to serious health issues. The goal of this project was to raise awareness about unregulated chemicals that are not included in citizens' annual drinking water reports and to urge cities to conduct more tests. Additionally, it aimed to provide the general public with access to these tests in order to protect their health.

Research: How Flooding Spreads PFAS Contamination

Fight for Zero partnered with researchers from the University of Florida on a 3-year million-dollar grant funded by the EPA. The research aimed to study the spread of Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other pollutants during floods and hurricanes. This study will provide valuable information to communities regarding the health risks associated with PFAS contamination and help them take preventive measures to avoid exposure. The team will use the findings from this research to develop comprehensive strategies for environmental protection, emergency management, and exposure mitigation. These efforts will contribute to developing healthy and environmentally resilient communities, extending beyond the scope of the case study area.

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Partnered to Create National Health Guidance for PFAS

Fight for Zero Executive Director Stel Bailey was chosen as a community liaison by the National Academy of Sciences to provide input on reducing patient exposure to PFAS chemicals. Bailey shared valuable insights regarding PFAS exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up. For decades, polluters were aware of the dangers of PFAS but deliberately concealed the risks from the public. Studies conducted by PFAS manufacturers as early as 1950 revealed that these chemicals could accumulate in the bloodstream. By the 1960s, they were aware of the health risks but kept the studies hidden for many years. Even small amounts of PFAS in drinking water have been linked to immune system suppression, reproductive system harm, and an increased risk of certain cancers.

Support from Renowned Erin Brockovich

In 2018, Fight for Zero organized multiple community town hall meetings in Brevard County to address water quality and health concerns. These meetings, which were featured on the Brockovich Report, included one with Erin Brockovich herself. Fight for Zero continues to collaborate with Brockovich's team to tackle environmental issues that affect Florida communities. The organization focuses on various problems such as chlorine dosing in water systems, harmful algal blooms, fluoride removal from drinking water, PFAS contamination at DoD sites, cancer cluster concerns in Brevard County, Executive Director Stel Bailey's independent work in Washington DC, and the inspiring story of the fight for zero.

manatee bone graveyard unusual mortality event

UME Designation for Manatees

In January 2021, volunteers from Fight for Zero started documenting deceased manatees washing up on the shores of the northern Indian River Lagoon. They discovered an island where these manatee carcasses were being disposed of, essentially becoming a graveyard. This shocking discovery brought national attention to the numerous manatee deaths and water quality issues in the important national estuary. The Executive Director, Stel Bailey, collected muck and water from the Indian River Lagoon in Titusville, Florida, where over 7.2 million gallons of sewage had spilled. This was also the area where emaciated manatees were washing ashore. This unique jar project ultimately led to legislators allocating 8 million dollars to the Florida Fish and Wildlife in June 2021, with the aim of restoring crucial manatee habitat areas.

Accomplishments

Committee Liaison for Guidance on PFAS testing and health outcomes with the National Academies of Sciences
Awarded a three-year PFAS Exposure Study grant with UF in 2020.
Worked with ATSDR for chronic stress training guidance
Community input to the EPA, DoD, ATSDR, CDC, and white house staff on PFAS contamination
Speaking Engagements: 3rd National PFAS conference at North Carolina State University, Rollins College 15th Annual Summit, Environmental Working Group (EWG) inaugural PFAS conference, Central Florida Association of Environmental Professionals (CFAEP) Conference, SAFE EPA event in Washington DC, 2022
Manatee Unusual Mortality Event designation 2021
Earned a "seat at the table" in the first EPA summit on PFAS and organized to drive the agenda at local EPA summits on PFAS across the country
4,500 grassroots members
Launched The Advocates Voice with 60,000 supporters
Indian River Lagoon Fish Survey 2021

A Voice

EPA listed PFOA & PFOS as Hazardous Substances under CERCLA 2022
Passed TRI reporting and sued EPA in federal court to force the agency to close illegal loophole that let chemical plants and military bases across the United States a voice in disclosing their PFAS emissions into the environment
Filed motion to intervene for PFOA/PFOS health advisories
Released the disclosure of hidden documents on PFAS chemicals admitting there were significantly more toxic than previously portrayed
Got 29 more PFAS tested in the UCMR5
Drinking water health advisory levels changed to PFOS at .004 ppt and PFOS at .02 ppt in 2022
$20 million through NDAA for a national multi-site health study of PFAS
$500 million for cleaning of DOD sites through the 2022 NDAA and $168 million in 2021
$10 billion for PFAS Communities in the Infrastructure package
PFAS Action Act 2021 (federal)
Six introduced PFAS bills in 2022 Florida legislation.

Projects

Education & Awareness Projects: The Advocates Voice + Podcast, films, advocate workshops, national toxic series, community meetings & conferences.
The Timeline Project Historical research into pollution and disease clusters.
Testing Projects: Drinking water, groundwater, surface water, soil, sand, foam, fish, agriculture, etc.
Investigations: Disease cluster rates, FUD sites, phosphate mining impacts, Manatee UME, school safety, DoD & legacy contamination, sewage pollution, & harmful bacteria.
Mapping Projects: Cancer and autoimmune data, PFAS contamination, FUDS properties, Superfunds, and more to come.
Closer to Zero Projects: Planting more to uptake pollution, supporting initiatives to stop pollution sources, litter cleanups, and assisting other organizations in projects.

Continued Goals

Transform yards into eco-lawns to eliminate the need for fertilizers while creating food sources, pollinator habitats, and natural pollution filters.
Convert stormwater ponds to natural ecosystems by increasing native vegetation around the perimeter to encourage no-mow.
Continue funding test kits and water and air filters for families in need.
Work with local schools to develop water quality projects.
Meet with stakeholders to share scientific data and proposals on remediation alongside academic partners.
Continue collaborations on current projects with partners.
Deliver eco-care packages to families fighting life-altering diseases.
Education projects through podcasts, videography, photography, workshops, and outdoor activities
Publication of peer-reviewed study, manatee documentary, and podcast.
Furthering education through college classes, training, courses, and programs.

Featured

Story of the 2018 year and published on the Sunday front cover of Florida Today for work done in South Patrick Shores and Satellite Beach, Florida
In the Media: Brockovich Report, The Guardian, Fox News, Fox35, Hometown News, Click Orlando, News 13, PBS, Spectrum 9, American University Radio, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, NPR, Yahoo, US News, Fox 13 Seattle, WLRN Sundial Radio, CBS News, Eco Watch, AP News, Capital Public Radio, Space Coast Daily, Okinawa TV in Japan, & podcasts.
Documentaries: Phosfate, Forever in Florida, Humanatee, Toxicities, Cancer Alley, No Defense
Participation: ORCA, Safer EPA, Academy of Sciences, National PFAS Contamination Coalition, University of Florida, The Right to Clean Water, Volusia Wildlife Corridor, Community Action Works, Breast Cancer Action
Awards: Voice for the Environment 2022

Education

Converging on Cancer Workshop with the National Toxicology Program
Exploring Pathology Fish Dissection Training
Geosyntec PFAS Webinar Series
Wildlife Monitoring UF/IFAS
Advancing the Collection & Analysis of PFAS in Blood Webinar with TestAmerica
ArcGIS Online Training Course
Bachelor of Science in environmental science at Southern New Hampshire University
PFAS Analytical Methods and Sampling Training
Water quality field sampling using EPA-certified methods
Collect and prepare soil samples for lab analysis of VOCs, SVOCs, PFAS, and heavy metals.
Conduct surface water sampling for algal toxin analysis.
Sample counts of manatees in specified blocks at warm water aggregation sites.
Identify native and invasive species.
Make field observations and record data, including water conditions, coordinates, etc.
Compose and consult on science communications where research of peer-reviewed articles are required.

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321-312-0338

fight4zero@gmail.com

Brevard County, Florida

FIGHT FOR ZERO'S IMPACT

Harnessing the Power of Collective Action

✓ Conducted extensive educational campaigns, reaching out to hundreds of thousands of individuals to raise awareness about the risks associated with exposure to manmade chemicals.

✓ Aided communities impacted by pollution through independent tests, research, providing filters, and planting pollution-absorbing plants, which reduced harmful exposures.

✓ Collaborated with science and health experts to conduct research that is vital in securing funds for cleanup and policies to reduce harmful exposures.

✓ We, as parents, have strived to safeguard our children from harmful expsoures by initiating various initiatives that emphasize the importance of filtration systems in schools.

Accomplishments

A Voice

Projects

Continued Goals

Featured

Education

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