‘Forever chemicals’ may be present in over half of the drinking WATER
According to a new study, over half of all tap water samples in the United States contain harmful “forever chemicals,” compounds found in hundreds of household goods ranging from cleaning supplies to pizza boxes and whose widespread exposure can pose major health hazards.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) investigation looked for perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl compounds known as PFAS in tap water samples from over 700 homes, businesses, and drinking-water treatment plants across the country.
PFAS are water resistant, which means they do not degrade in the environment and can remain in human bodies for years.According to Kelly Smalling, a USGS hydrologist who conducted the research, analysing tap water provides for a more precise evaluation of what individuals are consuming.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive levels of PFAS can alter hormones, impair liver function, raise the risk of kidney or testicular cancer, diminish birth weight in newborns, and jeopardise pregnant women’s health.
PFAS are water resistant, which means they do not degrade in the environment and can remain in human bodies for years. According to Kelly Smalling, a USGS hydrologist who conducted the research, analysing tap water provides for a more precise evaluation of what individuals are consuming.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive levels of PFAS can alter hormones, impair liver function, raise the risk of kidney or testicular cancer, diminish birth weight in newborns, and jeopardise pregnant women’s health.
