Researchers confirm toxic chemicals from the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base are moving through Horry County’s stormwater system and reaching a popular public beach.
Horry County, SC — A new two‑year study from Coastal Carolina University (CCU) has identified some of the highest concentrations of PFAS ever recorded in the Winyah Bay watershed at Market Common and Myrtle Beach International Airport, confirming that contamination from the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base is actively flowing into the Atlantic Ocean through Midway Swash.
The research team, led by CCU (Coastal Carolina University) geoscientist Dr. Till Hanebuth, documented elevated PFAS levels in soil, groundwater, surface water, ocean foam, and even sea spray. According to the study, the contamination originates on the former Air Force Base property. Which is now home to Market Common neighborhoods, parks, and the county’s primary airport, before entering the Midway drainage canal and discharging directly onto the beach at 29th Avenue South.
Hanebuth said the most significant new finding is the confirmation of a complete contamination pathway: from the airport area, through Horry County’s stormwater system, and into the ocean. “This is the first time we’ve been able to trace the flow all the way to the beach,” he noted. “The levels we found near the former base are among the highest in the region.”
PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” were widely used in military firefighting foam for decades. The former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base has been the subject of multiple environmental reviews, including a 2020 Air Force report that documented high PFAS concentrations in groundwater and surface water. The new CCU study expands on that work by showing how the chemicals continue to migrate off‑site.
Midway Swash, a shallow outfall where the drainage canal meets the ocean, is a popular spot where children often play and beachgoers cross to reach the shoreline. Researchers warned that PFAS levels in the swash are high enough that direct contact should be avoided. The study also found PFAS in sea foam and aerosolized sea spray, raising concerns about additional exposure pathways for people on the beach.
City officials acknowledged long‑standing PFAS contamination at the former base but said they had not yet reviewed the CCU report. The city noted that state environmental regulators monitor wells in the area and emphasized that Market Common remains safe for residential use. The CCU findings, however, focus on recreational exposure at the swash and beach, not drinking water.
Environmental advocates say the study underscores the need for updated public advisories and a closer look at stormwater infrastructure that may be transporting contaminants. PFAS exposure has been linked to certain cancers, immune suppression, hormone disruption, and developmental effects.
The CCU research team plans additional sampling to determine how far offshore the contamination travels and whether marine life near the outfall is accumulating PFAS. The findings will be shared with local and state agencies for further review.
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