‘Forever Chemicals’ in US Drinking Water: A Growing Problem (Connecting the Dots: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Natural Resources Defense Council, Waterkeeper Alliance, Robert Redford, Mikhail Gorbachev, The Green Cross International & Soros Funding, All Networking)
With
more than 7,200 public water systems affected, water and waste professionals
say tackling America’s contaminated water is no easy task.
EPOCHTIMES.COM
By
Autumn Spredemann November 10, 2024 Updated: November 10, 2024
Formally
identified as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of manmade
chemicals known as PFAS are found in everything from soil and food to common
household items and water. An overabundance of these compounds has been
detected in U.S. drinking water and that of other industrialized nations,
sparking discussion on control and mitigation among experts.
Exposure
to PFAS has been linked to serious chronic health issues such as increased
risk of certain cancers, fertility problems, and immune system challenges.
Unlike
some industrial chemicals, PFAS don’t break down and are difficult to destroy,
thus earning the moniker “forever chemicals.”
Since
the 1940s, PFAS compounds have been used in everyday items such as nonstick
cookware, water-repellent clothes, stain-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, and
firefighting foams, according
to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Able
to resist water, grease, oil, and heat, PFAS compounds quickly became popular.
More than half a century later, these forever chemicals have become a growing
health and environmental concern.
This
year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it has observed
forever chemicals in America’s groundwater at alarming levels, prompting the
first-ever national, enforceable standard for drinking water, meant to protect
communities from dangerous amounts of PFAS exposure.
“I
believe this is a serious public health concern. From what I’ve seen in my
work, chemical exposure—even at low levels—can affect communities long-term.
And PFAS isn’t something that just disappears,” Previn Pillay, CEO of Pyromin
Consulting, told The Epoch Times by email.
Pillay
has dealt with complex water contamination issues including waste treatment and
government compliance. He said forever chemicals can build up in people and the
environment over time, causing a domino effect of negative consequences.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency building in Washington on Aug. 21, 2024. Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images
“Studies
suggest that PFAS exposure can increase the risk of metabolic diseases, which
is already becoming a growing issue in affected areas. I’ve seen how industrial
contaminants, when not controlled, can cause health problems down the line.
It’s something we just can’t ignore,” Pillay said.
Probable
links between consumption of forever chemicals and negative health outcomes
have been studied for years and the results paint a grim picture.
“First,
the structure of PFAS means they resist breakdown in the environment and in our
bodies. Second, they move relatively quickly through the environment, making
their contamination hard to contain. Third, for some PFAS, even extremely low
levels of exposure can negatively impact our health,” the senior strategic
director of health and food for the Natural
Resources Defense Council, Erik D.
Olson, said
in April.
On
its website, the EPA states its
new regulations are meant to “reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100
million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of
serious illnesses. EPA concurrently announced a further $1 billion to help
states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water
systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination.”
Among
the contaminants observed is lithium, a subclass of the forever chemicals group
that’s a growing concern, according
to the Pratt School of Engineering.
The
National Institute of Environmental Health Science states that nearly
15,000 synthetic substances fall into the forever chemicals category.
This
year, at hundreds of drinking water sites across the country, the nonprofit
Environmental Working Group
reported PFAS levels higher than the EPA’s proposed
limits of 4 and 10 parts per trillion. Coastal states have the highest
concentrations of above-regulation forever chemical contamination.
In
October, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said
PFAS may be America’s “biggest water problem since lead.”
Life
Cycle Consideration
“As
someone deeply embedded in the water filtration business for decades, I can
affirm that the presence of PFAS in drinking water is a pressing public health
concern,” Brian McCowin told The Epoch Times.
McCowin
is the service manager at McCowin Water, the business his father started.
“To
manage PFAS better, collaboration between private sectors like ours and
regulatory bodies is key,” McCowin said.
“We’ve
successfully steered complex water issues by prioritizing ethical practices and
transparency with clients. This approach could inspire improved standards and
accountability across the board.”
Pillay
also thinks cooperation is the fastest way to mitigate PFAS in American water.
“If
we’re going to manage this PFAS contamination better, we need both sectors
working together, sharing knowledge, and accelerating the development of
advanced filtration systems.”
Although
filtration has always been the go-to solution for removing PFAS in water, some
researchers believe the scope of the contamination requires a new approach.
An
environmental engineering team at the University of California, Riverside
(UCR) published a study in July that discovered a special
bacteria that can destroy certain types of forever chemicals. The microbes are
already prevalent in wastewater.
In
their observations, researchers noted the bacteria attack the previously
impenetrable carbon-fluorine bond in PFAS compounds. This is a critical step
towards removing the “forever” part of the chemicals.
“This
is the first discovery of a bacterium that can do reductive defluorination of
PFAS structures,” study author Yujie Men said.
This
isn’t the only breakthrough to come out of UCR this year. Another team led by
chemical and environmental engineering professor Haizhou Liu developed
a process that takes advantage of the high salt levels at water treatment
plants and uses them to break the carbon-fluorine bond. This is significant
since the same waste salts normally hinder the cleanup process for other
chemical pollutants.
The
discovery builds on Liu’s 2022 work that shows PFAS can be destroyed by
treating contaminated water with short-wavelength ultraviolet light without
creating toxic byproducts.
“We
were looking at PFAS with different carbon chains, short chains, and we also
looked at salty wastewater that has a high concentration of chloride and
sulfate,” Liu stated. “The results show that the salinity in wastewater acts as
a catalyst when receiving the UV light to make this process even more effective
and much faster.”
These
new treatment methods show promise, but experts say it’s important to proceed
with caution to avoid swapping one environmental problem for another.
“Remediation
strategies are chosen that can decrease PFAS levels in water to applicable
health-based criteria and thereby limit exposure of local populations to PFAS
through ingestion of drinking water,” a March study published
in the journal Remediation noted.
“However, this approach does not consider the potential for human exposure throughout the life cycle of the remediation technology, in which spent media may need to be disposed of, regenerated, or destroyed over the many years the technology is likely to be in place.”
Methods
researchers identified as needing evaluation to prevent environmental release
and safe disposal of contaminants include filtration techniques such as
activated charcoal and chemical treatments.
Pillay
and McCowin agree that a careful approach is needed when removing PFAS from
water, especially when using newer ideas such as microbes.
“While
this could revolutionize how we handle contamination, scaling this to treat
municipal supplies will require significant research to ensure no adverse
ecological impacts arise,” McCowin said. “My experience with new technologies
in water filtration highlights the need for rigorous testing before widespread
deployment.”
Pillay
concurred and said using bacteria to tackle PFAS in water is interesting. He
said he has seen “microbial solutions” work in other types of clean-up
scenarios but scaling it up for public use presents a whole different
challenge.
“That’s
where it gets tricky. When we’ve introduced new systems in mining, scaling up
often comes with unforeseen challenges, and I’d expect the same here. You have
to consider things like the bacteria’s effectiveness across different water
conditions and the potential ecological impacts. If we’re not careful, we could
end up causing more harm than good,” he said.
Taking
Action
PFAS
are still pouring out of taps in U.S. homes. At a household level, special
filters are currently the most effective method for removing forever chemicals
from drinking water.
“For
homeowners, using reverse osmosis filtration systems is one effective method to
tackle PFAS contamination. These systems have been proven to reduce ‘forever
chemicals’ significantly,” McCowin said.
He
also said maintaining and disposing of old filters responsibly is critical to
avoid any secondary pollution.
Pillay
also believes filtration is the best option for Americans who want to drink
PFAS-free water at home, but recommends ones that use an activated carbon
block.
“Here’s the thing: These filters need regular replacement to stay effective. I’ve seen it too many times where systems fail simply because upkeep wasn’t prioritized. For homeowners, staying on top of filter changes is crucial to reducing exposure. It’s not a complete solution, but it’s a good start,” he said.
When
asked about the safe disposal of PFAS-saturated filters, Pillay said it’s a
catch-22 situation. “This reminds me of something we face often in my industry,
solving one problem sometimes creates another.”
Just
throwing the spent filters in regular landfills may result in PFAS getting into
the soil or air. In April, the EPA released interim guidelines
that covered options for safe disposal. Ones that were considered “lower
potential” for environmental release than others include underground injection
wells, hazardous material landfills, and thermal treatment.
Pillay
said burning the filters may create a different problem since PFAS are unique
among hazardous waste. “I know from my experience with hazardous materials that
incineration is often suggested, but with PFAS, burning it at high temperatures
could lead to toxic byproducts in the air. So, we need to think carefully about
how we handle the waste we’re creating.”
He
added, “If we don’t, we could end up trading water contamination for air
pollution. It’s a tough balance and one that requires a lot more thought before
making any decisions.”
Connecting
the Dots:
George Soros was the chairman for
the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the
Natural Resources Defense Council and the Climate Reality
Project.
James Gustave
Speth is an honorary trustee at the Natural Resources Defense
Council and a director at the Climate Reality Project.
Orin S.
Kramer is a director at the Climate Reality Project and was
an administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Lee M.
Thomas was a director at the Climate Reality Project and an
administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Carol M.
Browner was a director at the Climate Reality Project, the
energy czar for the Barack Obama administration and an
administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
William A. Nitze
was an assistant administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), a director at the Atlantic Council of the United
States (think tank) and is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think
tank).
Open Society Foundations was a funder
for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
George Soros is the founder
& chairman for the Open Society Foundations and was the
chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen
Institute (think tank) and the ClimateWorks Foundation.
William
K. Reilly is the chair for the ClimateWorks
Foundation and was an administrator for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
William
D. Ruckelshaus was an administrator for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and is a life trustee at the Urban
Institute (think tank).
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Urban
Institute (think tank), the Center for American Progress and the Climate
Reality Project.
George Soros was the chairman
for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for
the Center for American Progress and the founder & chairman for
the Open Society Foundations.
Open Society Foundations was a funder
for the Center for American Progress.
Carol M.
Browner is a senior fellow, director at the Center for
American Progress, was a director at the Climate Reality Project,
the energy czar for the Barack Obama administration, and an
administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
James Gustave
Speth is a director at the Climate Reality Project and an
honorary trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Climate
Reality Project and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
George Soros was the chairman for
the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder &
chairman for the Open Society Foundations.
Open Society Foundations was a funder
for the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Atlantic
Council of the United States (think tank).
William A. Nitze
was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think
tank), an assistant administrator for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and is a trustee at the Aspen
Institute (think tank).
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the
Aspen Institute (think tank) and the Natural Resources Defense
Council.
George Soros was the chairman
for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
George M.
Woodwell is a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council
and was a trustee at the Environmental Defense Fund.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a
senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, the
founder of the Waterkeeper Alliance and is a director at the Riverkeeper.
Laura Turner
Seydel is a trustee at the Waterkeeper Alliance, a board
member for the Environmental Working Group and Ted Turner’s daughter.
Ted
Turner is Laura Turner Seydel’s father and a
co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a
funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Open Society Foundations was a funder for
the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
George Soros is the founder
& chairman for the Open Society Foundations and a board member
for the International Crisis Group.
Ernesto Zedillo was
a board member for the International Crisis Group and was the
president of Mexico.
Ricardo Lagos is
a board member for the International Crisis Group, a trustee at
the Environmental Defense Fund and was the president of Chile.
Thomas H. Kean is
a trustee at the Environmental Defense Fund and a member of
the Bretton Woods Committee.
George Soros is a member of the Bretton
Woods Committee, the founder of the Soros Fund Management and was
the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the
Natural Resources Defense Council.
Stanley F.
Druckenmiller was a managing director at the Soros Fund
Management and is a trustee at the Environmental Defense Fund.
Natural
Resources Defense Council was a major opponent for the California
Proposition 23.
Gavin Newsom was
invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception and is the
lieutenant governor for the California state government.
Wendy Schmidt was
a major opponent for the California Proposition 23, is a trustee at
the Natural Resources Defense Council, married to Eric E.
Schmidt and the president & co-founder for the Schmidt Family
Foundation.
Schmidt
Family Foundation was a funder for the Natural Resources
Defense Council and the Environmental Working Group.
L. John Doerr was
a major opponent for the California Proposition 23, a trustee at
the Aspen Institute (think tank) and married to Ann Doerr.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the
Aspen Institute (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open
Society Foundations.
Open Society Foundations was a funder
for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
William A. Nitze
is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), was a director at
the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and an
assistant administrator for the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
Ann Doerr is
married to L. John Doerr, and a trustee at the Environmental
Defense Fund.
Ricardo Lagos is
a trustee at the Environmental Defense Fund, a board member for
the International Crisis Group and was the president of Chile.
George Soros is a board member
for the International Crisis Group.
Ernesto Zedillo was
a board member for the International Crisis Group and was the
president of Mexico.
Kofi A. Annan is
a board member for the International Crisis Group and a trustee at
the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
(think tank).
Open Society Foundations was a funder for
the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
George Soros is the founder
& chairman for the Open Society Foundations and was the
chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace (think tank).
Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a
funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Ted Turner is a
co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and Laura
Turner Seydel’s father.
Laura Turner
Seydel is Ted Turner’s daughter, a trustee at the Waterkeeper
Alliance and a board member for the Environmental Working Group.
Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. was the founder of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a
senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and is a
director at the Riverkeeper.
Natural
Resources Defense Council was a major opponent for the California
Proposition 23.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Natural Resources Defense
Council.
George
Soros was the chairman
for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Robert Redford is
a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council and an honorary
board member for Green Cross International.
Mikhail Gorbachev is
the founder of Green Cross International and was the general
secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Global Green USA is
a US affiliate of Green Cross International.
Anna Getty was a
board member for Global Green USA and is a board member for
the Environmental Working Group.
Laura Turner
Seydel is a board member for the Environmental Working Group,
Ted
Turner’s daughter
and a trustee at the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Schmidt
Family Foundation was a funder for the Environmental Working
Group, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the New
America Foundation.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for
the Natural Resources Defense Council and the New America
Foundation.
George Soros was the chairman
for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Terry Tamminen was
a senior fellow & climate policy director at the New America
Foundation, the secretary for the California
Environmental Protection Agency, a special assistant for energy and
environmental technologies, cabinet secretary for the former California
state government governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and is a
board member for the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Katherine
Kendrick was a trustee at the Waterkeeper Alliance
and the general counsel for the DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.
Roger A. Enrico was
the chairman for the DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. and a trustee at
the Environmental Defense Fund.
Mellody L. Hobson was
the chairman for the DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. and a trustee at
the Sundance Institute.
Jeanne
Donovan Fisher is a trustee at the Sundance Institute and
was a trustee at the Environmental Defense Fund.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Sundance
Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
George Soros was the chairman
for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Robert Redford is
a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council, the founder
& president of the Sundance Institute and an honorary board
member for Green Cross International.
Mikhail Gorbachev is
the founder of Green Cross International and was the general
secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Global Green USA is
a US affiliate of Green Cross International.
Anna Getty was a
board member for Global Green USA and is a board member for
the Environmental Working Group.
Laura Turner
Seydel is a board member for the Environmental Working Group,
Ted
Turner’s daughter
and a trustee at the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Resources:
Past Research
Obama's
New EPA Chief: Climate Change 'Most Significant Public Health Threat Of Our
Time' (Past Research on the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA))
Tuesday,
November 12, 2013
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/11/obamas-new-epa-chief-climate-change.html
Player
of the Week: Environmental Protection Agency (Past
Research on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA))
Wednesday,
December 11, 2013
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/12/player-of-week-environmental-protection.html
“Tear
Down This Wall” (Connecting the Dots: Mikhail Gorbachev, The USSR, Green Cross
International, Global Green USA & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Natural Resources Defense Council)
Friday,
February 10, 2023
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2023/02/tear-down-this-wall-connecting-dots.html
Ignoring
Drought, U.S. to Divert Water to Mexico for Environmental Project (Past Research on the Waterkeeper Alliance)
Friday,
November 21, 2014
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/11/ignoring-drought-us-to-divert-water-to.html
Ex-Soviet
Leader Mikhail Gorbachev Dead at 91 (Connecting the Dots: Mikhail Gorbachev,
Communist Party, Green Cross International, Pre-Oscar Party, Soros Funded Think
Tanks ALL Networking) (Past Research on Green Cross
International)
Tuesday,
August 30, 2022
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