Perkins, T. (2022, October 18). More than 80% of us waterways contaminated by ‘forever chemicals’. The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/18/pfas-forever-chemicals-80-percent-us-waterways-contaminated
Tom Perkins introduces the article by stating that most of the waterways in America are very likely to contain toxic PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals”. In the Waterkeeper Alliance analysis, PFAS levels in around 83% percent of waterways tested throughout multiple states were detected. CEO of the Waterkeeper Alliance, Marc Yaggi, explains that the detected PFAS contamination is proof that the rules and regulations on water quality/protection need to be updated. PFAS earned the name “forever chemicals”; they were created to make products more resistant which means they don’t break down naturally. It was also discovered that PFAS are linked to diseases such as cancer, liver problems, kidney diseases, and other health issues. Past tests and analyses have discovered that these chemicals have successfully contaminated drinking water for over 200 million people. Because of the regulations and laws that aren’t up to standard, big industrial companies have been able to release all their toxic waste into the environment, mostly water, without any punishments. More studies have been conducted on chemical levels in water and the results were that most bodies of water were contaminated. The bodies of water that didn’t show any signs of contamination were located in rural areas with no machinery. While the EPA has come up with some solutions to help the issue such as designating PFOS and PFOA as dangerous substances, there has to be a lot more done to have safe drinking water.
This article talked more about the substances that are polluting our water and backed it up with evidence from multiple tests of contamination. I found the “forever chemicals” interesting to learn about and I also wasn’t aware of how many states don’t have clean drinking water. I wonder how long these chemicals have existed, how long they’ve been dumped into our water, and how long it would take to cancel out the contamination. It’s a little nerve-wracking to think that there are chemicals in your water that are linked to diseases such as cancer. I also think that this article backs up the point that groups such as the EPA aren’t doing enough to make progress toward clean water. The solutions that they’ve brought up are temporary and they probably wouldn’t be strongly reinforced. I’m afraid that forever chemicals are just the beginning of the decline of our water quality if something isn’t done soon.