PFAS Contaminated Water and Food: Guardian

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of about 5,000 manmade fluorinated chemicals, widely used to produce waterproof and stain-resistant textiles. These chemicals, which don’t break down naturally, are known as “forever chemicals.” But they are also water soluble, polluting soil and nearby drinking-water sources.” It is estimated that PFAS are in 99% of Americans’ blood, and the chemicals have been found in Arctic animals,” reports Tom Perkins for the Guardian. Residents of Merrimack, New Hampshire, reported high numbers of cancers and kidney disease, soon after the local plant boosted its production of chemically weatherproofed fabrics with the use of PFAS. As high as 70,000 parts per trillion PFAS were detected in throughout a 65-mile area around the plant while New Hampshire’s groundwater limit is 12 ppt. The federal government’s advisory level is 70 ppt as chemical companies and the Trump administration reject a direct relationship between PFAS and the range of health problems. US officials claim that the country’s environmental standards are high and even hamper economic competition at times. About 700 PFAS-polluted water sites are reported in the United States, affecting more than 110 million people. – YaleGlobal