According to a recent report from the Environmental Working Group, along with Northeastern University, cancer-causing chemicals continue to pollute the water for millions in the United States.
PFAS chemicals (including PFOA and PFOS) have been used in a variety of different products on the market and have previously been linked with a myriad of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, thyroid disease and cancer. And this isn't the first time that Americans have heard that there might be concerning levels of chemicals in their water.
It also isn't only Americans who are facing such a contamination issue; PFAS contamination is believed to be a problem for millions worldwide.
There are concerns over these chemicals dating back decades. And the use of them has been ubiquitous, to the point that the CDC has previously suggested that the PFAS chemicals might be found in the blood of every American.
Right now, their current analysis suggests that the contamination is a problem for millions of Americans; finding chemicals in the tap water in dozens of different states.
They aren't finished with their analysis of the problem either, and they've suggested that they still aren't anywhere close to uncovering the true extent of the problem.
As a growing number of communities have tested for the chemicals, an increasing number have been finding undesirable results.
At the moment it's estimated that more than 16 million Americans might be impacted, and apparently the state where the problem has been found to be the most extensive is in New jersey.
The EPA allegedly has plans to hold a national summit soon, that will be aimed at bringing attention to the issue. That event is expected to take place in Washington next month. Dozens of US Senators have also recently sent a letter to the EPA, urging them to act on the issue.
But before that...
The granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration system is currently regarded as the best for getting the job done and removing any of these chemicals from a water source.
In a previous analysis of water treatment methods, the Water Research Foundation had found that chlorine dioxide, aeration, dissolved air flotation, flocculation, sedimentation, coagulation, granular filtration, and microfiltration, were all ineffective at removing PFASs from the water. They had concluded that the GAC performed the best.
The water filtration system might have initially been thought of as a temporary solution. However, some have suggested that perhaps the filtering option will need to become a permanent solution, not just a temporary one, to be sure that there isn't any contamination going forward.
Pics:
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Environmental Working Group
Sources:
https://www.ewg.org/release/crisis-fluorinated-chemical-pollution-keeps-spreading-no-end-sight
http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/news/20180418/pfas-contamination-growing-nationwide-analysis-finds
https://www.app.com/story/news/health/2018/04/18/nj-drinking-water-pfoa/515074002/
https://www.ecowatch.com/fluorinated-chemical-pollution-drinking-water-2561173932.html
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/pownal-water-district-facing-permanent-pfoa-filtering,536168
http://krcc.org/post/attorney-long-history-fighting-pfc-contamination-says-learn-what-we-went-through
https://www.kxly.com/news/water-filtration-systems-installed-at-fairchild-air-force-base/727692751
https://vtdigger.org/2018/04/06/long-term-filtering-may-solution-pownal-pollution/
https://www.wateronline.com/doc/how-to-remove-pfoa-and-pfos-0001
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170608133402.htm
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120903221128.htm
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/pfas-toxic-chemical-millions-peoples-drinking-water
http://www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/pfas-found-in-some-private-wells-near-ford-airport/1126318034