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The ‘forever chemicals’ in 99% of Americans

In 1946, DuPont introduced Teflon to the world, changing millions of people’s lives – and polluting their bodies. Today, the family of compounds including Teflon, commonly called PFAS, is found not only in pots and pans but also in the blood of people around the world, including 99 percent of Americans. PFAS chemicals pollute water, do not break down, and remain in the environment and people for decades. Some scientists call them “forever chemicals.”

In March, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed bold new limits for six PFAS in public water systems. The two best-studied and most notorious compounds – PFOA, once used in Teflon, and PFOS, formerly used in Scotchgard – would have a limit of 4 parts per trillion in drinking water. The chemicals PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS and GenX would be subject to a hazard index calculation to determine whether the levels of these PFAS pose a potential health risk.

Of tap water samples from 44 places in 31 states and the District of Columbia, only one location had no detectable PFAS, and only two other locations had PFAS below the level that independent studies show pose risks to human health. Some of the highest PFAS levels detected were in samples from major metropolitan areas, including Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans and the northern New Jersey suburbs of New York City.

In 34 places where EWG’s (Environmental Working Group) independent tests found PFAS, contamination has not been publicly reported by the Environmental Protection Agency or state environmental agencies. Because PFAS are not regulated, utilities that have chosen to test independently are not required to make their results public or report them to state drinking water agencies or the EPA.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA TESTED HIGHEST OF THE 44 LOCATIONS IN 31 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WITH 185.9 PARTS PER TRILLION. WITH A EWG RECOMENDATION OF 1 PART PER TRILLION.

PFAS are used, often superfluously, in everyday products like nonstick cookware, carpets, food packaging, stain repellents, and water-resistant clothing. The synthetic compounds are also commonly found in firefighting foam and gear, which has led to the contamination of most military bases and airports. GenX, which DuPont began producing in 2009, is merely one of the many thousands of these “forever chemicals” that don’t break down in the environment and, instead, can bioaccumulate in the bodies of humans and wildlife. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PFAS can be detected in the blood of nearly every American.

Although the human health impacts of PFAS are a relatively new area of study, a 2021 CDC report found that exposure to PFAS, even at very low levels, can cause thyroid problems, fertility issues, asthma, and more. Indeed, scientists suspect there is a possible thyroid cancer cluster in the Wilmington NC area, about 90 miles downstream from Chemours’ Fayetteville plant.

 

Emerging Contaminants & Drinking Water

As technology continues to evolve and improve, laboratories are able to identify and detect new compounds that were previously unknown. When found in the drinking water supply, these new chemicals are known as “emerging contaminants.” Emerging contaminants create a challenge for drinking water providers because they are unregulated and little is known about their potential risks to human health and the environment.

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