Majority of US Waterways Contaminated by Cancer-Linked ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Analysis Reveals
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) have been used in many consumer and industrial products since the 1940s. Often used to make products water-resistant, they break down very slowly over time and tend to build up in both the human body and the environment. PFAs have been linked to cancer and disease in humans.
Waterkeeper Alliance, a worldwide network of environmental organizations focusing on clean water, recently determined that the majority of US waterways were polluted with cancer-linked “forever chemicals.” ● The agency conducted its analysis of US waterways in May and July of this year, taking 228 samples from 114 different rivers and streams across 34 states and the District of Columbia. Researchers found that 83% of the samples were found to have PFAs at levels that exceed federal limits, with 70% of those water sources detecting the most dangerous kinds of chemicals: PFOS and PFOA.