PFAs Everywhere: The Invisible threat in our water

Throughout history, rainfall has long symbolized hope and prosperity, however, a startling discovery casts a shadow of doubt over these feelings: the rain is no longer clean. Recent studies show that rainwater from all regions of our vast planet contains unsafe levels of toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAs (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals have been used for decades in the production of non-stick cookware materials, waterproofing in clothing as well as food packaging. Despite their frequent presence in our daily
life, their persistence and mobility have turned them into a global contaminant, due to them being synthetic compounds with a high resistance to biodegradation which allows them to accumulate in air, water, soil and in some cases, human blood. As concerns over their health impacts grow, we are left facing a difficult question: what happens to our world when rain itself becomes hazardous?

What are PFAs

Polyfluoroalkyl substances are a large group of synthetic chemicals defined by their strong carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds. These are among the strongest bonds in organic chemistry, which leads to PFAS being highly resistant to heat, water, and oil, as well as biological degradation. These properties make them extremely convenient in manufacturing, so they appear in a wide array of applications, from stain-resistant fabrics to firefighting foams. These resistant properties, however, lead to their persistence in the environment, particularly due to their resistance to biodegradation, be it through sunlight, bacteria or chemical reactions. Once they are released into the air, they persist perpetually in the environment, leading to them being
nicknamed “forever chemicals”.

PFAs, by nature, are also amphiphilic. This means that the molecule has both a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic end. This combination of properties allows them to exist and maneuver through aquatic environments with ease, allowing them to accumulate in living organisms, particularly within the blood and in liver tissue, with their concentration increasing up the food chain.

A study done by a team from Stockholm University has shown that rainwater across the globe exceeds the international safety guidelines for PFAs allowed in drinking water. This includes water in remote, seemingly untouched areas like the Amazon rainforest and even Antarctica. This happens due to the ease with which PFA’s travel. They can evaporate into the atmosphere and attach themselves to water vapour, where they contaminate the entire water cycle itself. This truly makes PFAs a planetary pollutant.

Why they are so Dangerous

High PFA exposure has adverse effects on human health. Exposure to high levels of PFAs has directly been linked to various types of cancer (kidney cancer particularly), Liver damage, Hormone disruption and HIgh cholesterol which may lead to heart disease. Contamination of agriculture by PFAs can lead to long-term health risks as we consume the contaminated plant life.

Potential Solutions

Filtration

Water treatment systems that can remove PFAs do exist; however, maintaining these filters for entire cities or towns is very expensive. In addition, the filtration of PFAs doesn’tremove them from the environment, only from that water source. Ways of truly breaking down PFAs are yet to be discovered by scientists and remains a work in progress.

Laws and Bans

Governments like the U.S. have started to take notice of the potential threat that PFAs pose and have started to enforce limits on their usage. In various European countries, a push to ban PFA chemicals altogether has begun. However, due to their effectiveness and convenience for industrial applications, there is great pushback. Rainfall has always been a symbol of renewal growth and prosperity. But the growing presence of PFAs in water worldwide makes that harder to believe.

These silent polluters, the consequence of decades of chemical convenience have infiltrated our most critical resources, with effects that jeopardize ecosystems, food systems and human health. For these reasons, it is pivotal for us to recognize the scale at which this problem ripples through our planet.

As scientists race to find methods to break them down, and governments respond with regulations we can see a way to mitigate the potential damage. Though the road will be a long one, with coordinated action we can reclaim our rainwater.

References

• Bergenholtz-Foglander, J. (n.d.). It’s Raining Pfas: Even in Antarctica and on the Tibetan plateau rainwater is unsafe to drink. Stockholm University. https://www.su.se/english/news/it-s-raining-pfas-even-in-antarctica-and-on-the-tibetan-plateau-rainwater-is-unsafe-to-drink-1.620735
• Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained
• “Forever chemicals” called pfas show up in your food, clothes, and home. (n.d.). https://www.nrdc.org/stories/forever-chemicals-called-pfas-show-your-food-clothes-and-home