“Forever chemicals” are everywhere; it’s past time to hold polluters accountable
John,
A new report says that so-called “forever chemicals” have been found in 43 out of 44 cities tested.
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known as “forever chemicals” because once they’re in the environment, they don’t break down naturally. When we ingest them, they build up in our bodies. They are associated with a range of health problems, including hormone imbalances, birth defects and cancer.
Food & Water Action is leading the fight to push Congress to deal with PFAS now.
It’s almost impossible to prevent PFAS contamination of our water because corporations continue to use them widely, without regulation.1
But right now, the Senate is considering a bill that would put an end to this. The Prevent Future American Sickness (PFAS) Act would designate PFAS as hazardous substances, hold corporations accountable for their pollution, and require the cleanup of the hardest-hit PFAS contamination areas.2
PFAS are in things we use every day, from the Teflon-coated pans we cook with to the Scotchguard-coated carpets we walk on. They’re in our shoes, our food wrappers and even our microwave popcorn bags.3 And because of sloppy manufacturing and disposal practices — most notably near big former military airports all over the country — these chemicals have leached into our water.
In the recent study, PFAS were found in nearly every water sample tested, sometimes at levels higher than the EPA considers safe. But in the 20 years the EPA has known about the dangers of PFAS in drinking water, it has never designated these toxic chemicals as hazardous substances or required their cleanup.4
The new Senate bill would finally hold corporations accountable for their contamination and jump start the cleanup of PFAS-contaminated sites across the country.
We’re fighting to spread the word about the dangers of PFAS and pressure the Senate to act immediately.
Food & Water Action and its affiliated organization, Food & Water Watch, are advocacy groups with a common mission to protect our food, water and climate. This email was sent to [email protected] - and we're glad you got it, because it's one of the most important ways you can reclaim political power, hold elected officials accountable and resist corporate control.
