SoylentNews

U.S. Drinking Water Contaminated With "Forever" Chemicals (Perfluoroalkyl Substances)

posted by takyon on Monday January 27 2020, @11:24PM   
from the bottoms-up dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

U.S. drinking water widely contaminated with 'forever chemicals': environment watchdog

The contamination of U.S. drinking water with man-made "forever chemicals" is far worse than previously estimated with some of the highest levels found in Miami, Philadelphia and New Orleans, said a report on Wednesday by an environmental watchdog group.

The chemicals, resistant to breaking down in the environment, are known as perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Some have been linked to cancers, liver damage, low birth weight and other health problems.

The findings here by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) show the group's previous estimate in 2018, based on unpublished U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data, that 110 million Americans may be contaminated with PFAS, could be far too low.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

---

Original Submission

• Re:Easy Re:Easy (Score: 4, Insightful) by MostCynical on Tuesday January 28 2020, @01:47AM (1 child)

  by MostCynical (2589) on Tuesday January 28 2020, @01:47AM (#949733) Journal

  No, the "market" will sort it out.

  It'll be like Detroit (with environmental, rather than economic, refugees), only without the possibility of subsistence farming..

  --
  "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

  Parent

  Starting Score:	1		point
  Moderation		+2
  Insightful=2, Total=2
  Extra 'Insightful' Modifier		0
  Karma-Bonus Modifier		+1
  Total Score:		4

• Re:Easy (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 28 2020, @11:32AM

  by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 28 2020, @11:32AM (#950016)

  Maybe Obama can come gingerly sip a glass of water to assure us all?

  Parent