Toxic
'forever chemicals' found in drinking water throughout US
A study released Wednesday by an environmental
watchdog group found heightened levels of potentially toxic
chemicals in tap water supplies serving dozens of major American cities.
The report, published by the Environmental Working
Group, found that 20 cities and regions nationwide – including Washington,
D.C., Philadelphia, Miami and Louisville, Kentucky – contained PFAS levels
of at least 10 parts per trillion. Forty-three areas, including New
York City, Nashville, Las Vegas and Sacramento, had detectable
PFAS at least 1 part per trillion.
Only one city, Meridian, Mississippi, which uses
well water 700 feet below the surface, found no PFAS, while Tuscaloosa, Alabama
and Seattle had levels lower than the 1 part per trillion limit advised by the
EWG.
PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances also known as "forever chemicals," have been
linked to reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and
immunological effects, as well as high cholesterol and obesity.
EWG's work expanded on data from an EPA program
that ended in 2015, analyzing water samples using an
EPA-approved independent laboratory for a larger set of PFAS
compounds.
PFAS compounds remain in food packaging, cookware
and other consumer products.
They are also still used in firefighting foam,
though Wisconsin, New York, Washington, and Colorado are beginning to switch to
non-PFAS foam, either due to action by state legislators or by self-regulation
by individual fire departments. It must also be phased out in fire departments
nationwide by 2024.
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