Toxic chemicals from the firefighting foam spill at Brunswick Executive Airport in August have reached the Androscoggin River, but state officials say the levels are low.

The chemicals are known as PFAS, and have been linked to various health problems, including cancer. Sample studies detected PFAS in the Androscoggin River near the Brunswick Sewer District outputs, according to a report released Friday from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

“The values in the river are below Maine’s current interim drinking water criteria of 20 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of six PFAS noted in the report,” said David Madore, the department’s deputy commissioner.

Madore said the levels “are in the range of values found in other major rivers near population centers in Maine,” and are below limits set by the US EPA. 

The latest data, collected on Aug. 27 and Sept. 5, showed PFAS levels of 5.1 and 4.6 parts per trillion above the sewer district outlet and 3.9 to 6.5 parts per trillion below the outlet.

Officials have conducted water testing in Brunswick since Aug. 19, when a malfunction caused thousands of gallons of firefighting foam to be discharged at the airport.

Since then, contaminants have been detected in surface water systems in the area.