US EditionAs many as 23M Americans exposed to toxic ‘forever chemicals’ via treated wastewater: Study
- Roughly 23 million Americans could be exposed to these forever chemicals from wastewater alone, the study found.
- The plants’ inability to remove compounds known as organofluorines from wastewater before it enters drinking water supplies becomes even more pronounced during droughts and could affect up to 23 million people, scientists wrote in an article published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
- Almost half the tap water in the US is contaminated, according to a 2023 study.
- The study also found climate change could increase exposure.
32 Articles
32 Articles
Wastewater treatment plant testing reveals limited removal of organofluorines, putting millions at potential risk
A research team led by Harvard University has found elevated concentrations of organofluorine in U.S. municipal wastewater. More than 60% consisted of widely prescribed fluorinated pharmaceuticals, while 6 federally regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) made up less than 10% of total extractable organofluorine in samples.
U.S. wastewater treatment fails to address rising organofluorine contamination
Municipal wastewater treatment plants remove less than 25% of extractable organofluorine, with fluorinated pharmaceuticals dominating contaminants and posing significant risks to U.S. drinking water quality.
Drinking water exposed 23 million Americans to ‘forever chemicals’: Study
A recent study found wastewater treatment plants are responsible for exposing 23 million Americans to toxic "forever chemicals" in their drinking water. These chemicals, known as PFAS, don't break down naturally and are linked to a range of health issues, including various types of cancer and liver damage. The study, conducted by a team of scientists in New York, included water samples from eight wastewater treatment plants across the United Sta…
'Forever chemicals' in wastewater far more widespread than previously known, study reveals
The "forever chemicals" flowing from U.S. wastewater treatment plants are not only more abundant than previously thought, but also largely consist of pharmaceuticals that have received little scientific or regulatory attention, a new multi-university study reveals.
Portland Press Herald
The Washington Post‘Forever chemicals’ are polluting water in an unexpected way — via prescription drugs
Researchers found that chemicals, including PFAS, from pharmaceuticals are entering into wastewater — which can be used as drinking water during times of drought.
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