In article U.S. drinking water widely contaminated with forever chemicals: Report the commonly touches upon the subject chemicals that permanently contaminate the waters in which they’re put into. This results in severe pollution of drinking water in places such as Miami, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. These forever chemicals are resistant to decomposition in the environment. Which results in many large water sources being fatal to the communities it supplied. Experts saved around 10 million Americans have already been contaminated with what are known as perfluoroalkyl substances. Additionally these detrimental chemicals are extremely hard to avoid once placed in a water source (i.e. Filtration at times cannot be an option). In the contaminated sites that were researched, around 6 to 7 of these fatal compounds are found in each site. Although there effects on health are not well understood.
The contamination of of these various water sources with “forever chemicals” has relation to environmental science through our interactions with the ecosystems around us. Many of the small local bodies of water that we have provide a habitat for various micro organisms, and other physical life. Although the dumping of our waste destroys their homes, and their entire populations. Additionally it ruins in Perfect water sources that could be well utilized. Overall dumping of dangerous chemicals depletes the life of an ecosystem. Which in turn relates to environmental science, by explaining another one of humans Extreme negative interactions with our natural environment
This is a well written abstract Alex, but one question. If the chemicals are “fatal” how are “their effects on health not well understood.” Are they really fatal- as in kill people? I would be curious to know just how toxic they are. Did the article mention the source of these chemicals? Seems like someone should be held responsible, but as you can imagine clean up of this type of thing is going to be difficult. There are certainly persistent chemicals out in the environment… when they enter the drinking water it’s especially concerning.
My only question is how do these water sources get contaminated and how do these toxic chemicals reach our water supplies? , but this is definitely an issue that needs to be resolved or else we’ll see a lot of its affects on people in later years.