By Jefferey Jaxen
Are you familiar with “forever chemicals”? You should be.
“Forever chemicals” are man-made chemicals and substances that do not break down after they are released into the environment and they build up in our blood and organs.
Our friends at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) call these substances PFAS (from “perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances”). They are exclusively man-made chemicals, and include an army of acronyms like PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals.
It’s all bad. Exposure to PFAS increases the risk of cancer. It harms the development of the fetus. It harms the immune system. Biomonitoring studies by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the blood of nearly all Americans is contaminated with PFAS.
There has been scientific research, including epidemiological studies, that shows early life PFAS exposure damages the immune system and decreases the response to vaccines.
Could this be why stronger, riskier adjuvants are being used and developed for vaccination? In order to further supercharge our broken immune systems?
New laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have for the first time found the toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS in the drinking water of dozens of U.S. cities, including major metropolitan areas.
The results confirm that the number of Americans exposed to PFAS from contaminated tap water has been dramatically underestimated by previous studies, both from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EWG’s own research.
The EPA was first alerted to the problem of PFAS in drinking water in 2001 but in almost 20 years has failed to set an enforceable, nationwide legal limit. Along with EWG’s reporting, The Intercept’s Sharon Lerner has written extensively over the past three years regarding the long-failed American regulatory climate surrounding PFAS’s along with the widespread contamination crisis.
In 2016, the EPA issued a non-enforceable lifetime health advisory for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water of 70 ppt. In marked contrast, independent scientific studies have recommended a safe level for PFAS in drinking water of 1 ppt, which is endorsed by EWG.
In December 2019, environmental officials from Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark announced a plan to restrict all PFAS compounds under Europe’s chemical regulations framework.
At the time Lerner wrote,
“While in the U.S. a 3M executive recently told members of Congress that “the weight of scientific evidence has not established that PFOS, PFOA, or other PFAS cause adverse human health effects,”
EWG’s recent report found:
“Of tap water samples from 44 places in 31 states and the District of Columbia, only one location had no detectable PFAS, and only two other locations had PFAS below the level that independent studies show pose risks to human health.”
At a 2017 PFAS conference, Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, gave the audience a framework on how to understand the problem simply stating “Every PFAS that has been studied is causing problems…”
EWG’s tests also found chemicals from the PFAS family that are not commonly tested for in drinking water.
According to EWG’s new report, some of the highest PFAS levels detected were in samples from major metropolitan areas, including Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans and the northern New Jersey suburbs of New York City.
The only sample without detectable PFAS was from Meridian, Miss., which draws its drinking water from wells more than 700 feet deep.
In 34 places where EWG’s tests found PFAS, contamination has not been publicly reported by the EPA or state environmental agencies. Because PFAS are not regulated, utilities that have chosen to test independently are not required to make their results public or report them to state drinking water agencies or the EPA.
The Flint Water Crisis is a great/horrible example. Local and state officials engaged in a multiyear, interagency coverup of water contamination. Starting in 2014, a combination of lead in the drinking water and an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease injured 90 and killed 12 residents. This eventually led seven officials to take a plea bargain.
Then, in June 2019, prosecutors dropped all criminal charges against the eight remaining officials awaiting trial.
Even then-President Obama did his part to aid in the coverup by denying the city the declaration of a disaster area, which would have allowed much-needed aid. He also pretended to drink city water at a press conference.
On a positive note, last week the Supreme Court cleared the way for thousands of water crisis victims to personally sue state and local government officials in Flint, Michigan – including former Governor Rick Snyder.
Nationwide sampling was mandated by the EPA between 2013 and 2015. However, a false sense of water security was given because the agency only tested for six PFAS compounds and the minimum reporting limits were between 10 ppt to 90 ppt. Those tests reported only 7 water systems with detectable PFAS levels.
Since the EPA monitoring program ended there has been no further nationwide testing of public water systems for PFAS.
Despite assurances by the EPA, the potential ill-health effects of America’s drinking water supply is highly suspect.
In 2019 one of the CDC’s ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century was widely challenged. Published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics in late 2019 was the first study to estimate fluoride exposure in a large birth cohort receiving optimally fluoridated water. The study forced many to re-examine the practice of water fluoridation including the journal’s editor-in-chief himself.
Funded by the Canadian government and the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Science, the the new study titled Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring in Canada examined the association between fluoride exposure during pregnancy and the IQ scores of the children at ages 3 and 4 years of age.
The scientists assessed fluoride exposure in two separate ways. They measured fluoride in women’s urine samples during pregnancy while also calculating fluoride consumption based on how much is in a city’s water supply and how much women recalled drinking.
The study found that of the 512 mother-child pairs, a 1-mg/L increase in maternal urinary fluoride was associated with a 4.49-point lower IQ score in boys.
The study’s authors concluded:
“…maternal exposure to higher levels of fluoride during pregnancy was associated with lower IQ scores in children aged 3 to 4 years. These findings indicate the possible need to reduce fluoride intake during pregnancy.”
As of 2018, 53 studies have found that elevated fluoride exposure is associated with reduced IQ in humans while 45 animal studies have found that fluoride exposure impairs the learning and/or memory capacity of animals.
Scheduled for an April 20 courtroom showdown is Food and Water Watch et al v. EPA. It represents the first time any citizen group will go to trial under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act. The plaintiffs in the case are requesting a ban on the addition of fluoridation chemicals to water in order “to protect the public and susceptible subpopulations from the neurotoxic risks of fluoride.”
With Flint and now fluoride’s chances at justice, aid and real change hanging in the balance of the legal system, how will the public come to terms with the emerging PFAS contamination?
Na Jefferey Jaxen Je, unajua kuhusu "kemikali za milele"? Unapaswa kuwa hivyo. "Kemikali ya milele" ni kemikali na vitu vilivyotengenezwa na binadamu ambavyo havivunjiki baada ya kutolewa katika mazingira na hujikusanya katika damu na viungo vyetu. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika ripoti ya EPA, ""Mafunzo ya kemikali ya PFAS ni pamoja na kemikali za perfluoroalkyl na polyfluoroalkyl.""" "Kama kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali, ""PFOA"" ni jina la kifupi la kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali za kemikali." Yote ni mabaya. Kuambukizwa PFAS huongeza hatari ya kansa. Huharibu ukuzi wa kijusi. Huharibu mfumo wa kinga. Uchunguzi wa uchunguzi wa kibiolojia uliofanywa na Kituo cha Kudhibiti na Kuzuia Magonjwa (CDC) unaonyesha kwamba damu ya Wamarekani wote karibu imechafuliwa na PFAS. Utafiti wa kisayansi, ikiwa ni pamoja na masomo ya magonjwa ya kuambukiza, unaonyesha kuwa mfiduo wa PFAS mapema katika maisha huumiza mfumo wa kinga na hupunguza majibu ya chanjo. Je, hii inaweza kuwa ni kwa nini nguvu, hatari adjuvants ni kutumika na maendeleo kwa ajili ya chanjo? Ili kuongeza nguvu ya mfumo wetu wa kinga uliovunjika? Uchunguzi wa maabara uliofanywa na kikundi cha kazi cha mazingira cha Marekani (EWG) umegundua kwa mara ya kwanza kemikali zenye sumu za fluorine zinazojulikana kama PFAS katika maji ya kunywa ya miji kadhaa ya Marekani, ikiwa ni pamoja na maeneo makubwa ya mji mkuu. Matokeo ya utafiti huo yanathibitisha kwamba idadi ya Wamarekani waliokabiliwa na PFAS kutoka kwa maji ya bomba yaliyochafuliwa imepunguzwa sana na masomo ya awali, kutoka kwa Shirika la Ulinzi wa Mazingira (EPA) na utafiti wa EWG. EPA ilijulishwa kwa mara ya kwanza juu ya tatizo la PFAS katika maji ya kunywa mnamo 2001, lakini kwa karibu miaka 20 imeshindwa kuweka kikomo cha kisheria cha kitaifa kinachoweza kutekelezwa. Pamoja na ripoti za EWG, Sharon Lerner wa The Intercept ameandika sana katika miaka mitatu iliyopita kuhusu hali ya hewa ya udhibiti wa Amerika iliyoshindwa kwa muda mrefu inayozunguka PFAS pamoja na mgogoro wa uchafuzi uliosambaa. "Mwaka 2016, EPA ilitoa ushauri wa afya wa maisha usioweza kutekelezwa kwa PFOA na PFOS katika maji ya kunywa ya 70 ppt. "" (pg. Kwa upande mwingine, utafiti wa kisayansi wa kujitegemea umependekeza kiwango salama cha PFAS katika maji ya kunywa ya 1 ppt, ambayo imeidhinishwa na EWG. Mwezi Desemba 2019, maafisa wa mazingira kutoka Sweden, Uholanzi, Ujerumani na Denmark walitangaza mpango wa kuzuia misombo yote ya PFAS chini ya mfumo wa kanuni za kemikali za Ulaya. "Wakati huo, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa 3M aliwaambia wanachama wa Bunge kwamba ""uzito wa ushahidi wa kisayansi haujathibitisha kwamba PFAS, PFOA, au PFAS nyingine husababisha athari mbaya kwa afya ya binadamu,"" ripoti ya hivi karibuni ya EWG iligundua: ""Kutoka kwa sampuli za maji ya bomba kutoka maeneo 44 katika majimbo 31 na Wilaya ya Columbia, eneo moja tu halikuwa na PFAS inayoweza kugunduliwa, na maeneo mengine mawili tu yalikuwa chini ya kiwango ambacho tafiti huru zinaonyesha kuwa zina hatari kwa afya ya binadamu.""" Kulingana na ripoti mpya ya EWG, baadhi ya viwango vya juu zaidi vya PFAS viligunduliwa katika sampuli kutoka maeneo makubwa ya mji mkuu, pamoja na Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans na vitongoji vya kaskazini vya New Jersey vya New York City. Mfano pekee ambao haukuwa na PFAS uligunduliwa kutoka Meridian, Miss., ambayo inachukua maji yake ya kunywa kutoka visima vya kina cha zaidi ya mita 270. Katika maeneo 34 ambapo majaribio ya EWG yaligundua PFAS, uchafuzi haujaripotiwa hadharani na EPA au mashirika ya mazingira ya serikali. Kwa sababu PFAS hazipatikani, huduma ambazo zimechagua kufanya majaribio kwa kujitegemea hazihitaji kufanya matokeo yao ya umma au kuripoti kwa mashirika ya maji ya kunywa ya serikali au EPA. Mgogoro wa Maji ya Flint ni mfano mzuri na mbaya. Maafisa wa mitaa na wa serikali walijihusisha na kuficha kwa miaka mingi, kati ya mashirika ya uchafuzi wa maji. Tangu mwaka 2014, mchanganyiko wa risasi katika maji ya kunywa na mlipuko wa ugonjwa wa Legionnaires ulisababisha majeruhi 90 na kuua wakazi 12. Hatimaye jambo hilo lilifanya maofisa saba wa serikali wafanye mapatano ya kukubali mashtaka. Mnamo Juni 2019, waendesha mashtaka waliondoa mashtaka yote dhidi ya maafisa wanane waliobaki wakisubiri kesi. Hata Rais Obama wa wakati huo alifanya sehemu yake kusaidia katika kuficha kwa kukataa mji huo kutangazwa eneo la msiba, ambayo ingeruhusu msaada unaohitajika sana. Pia alijifanya kunywa maji ya jiji katika mkutano wa waandishi wa habari. Mahakama ya Juu ya Marekani imeweka marufuku maelfu ya watu waliohusika katika mgogoro wa maji kushtaki serikali za Flint, Michigan, pamoja na Gavana wa zamani Rick Snyder. Kwa mfano, uchunguzi wa sampuli ya nchi nzima ulifanywa na EPA mnamo 2013 na 2015. Hata hivyo, hisia ya uongo ya usalama wa maji ilitolewa kwa sababu shirika lilijaribu tu kwa misombo sita ya PFAS na mipaka ya chini ya kuripoti ilikuwa kati ya 10 ppt hadi 90 ppt. Uchunguzi huo uliripoti mifumo ya maji saba tu yenye viwango vya PFAS vinavyoweza kugunduliwa. Tangu mwisho wa mpango wa ufuatiliaji wa EPA, hakuna upimaji zaidi wa kitaifa wa mifumo ya maji ya umma kwa PFAS. Kwa mujibu wa EPA, athari za afya za maji ya kunywa ya Marekani ni hatari. Katika mwaka wa 2019, moja ya mafanikio kumi makubwa ya afya ya umma ya CDC ya karne ya 20 ilishtakiwa sana. Utafiti huo uliochapishwa katika jarida la JAMA Pediatrics mwishoni mwa mwaka wa 2019 ulikuwa utafiti wa kwanza kukadiria mfiduo wa fluoride katika kundi kubwa la kuzaliwa waliopokea maji yenye fluoride bora. Utafiti huo ulilazimisha wengi kuchunguza tena mazoezi ya fluoridation ya maji ikiwa ni pamoja na mhariri mkuu wa jarida mwenyewe. Utafiti wa utafiti uliofanywa na Taasisi ya Kitaifa ya Sayansi ya Afya ya Mazingira ya Marekani, uliofadhiliwa na serikali ya Canada, uliangalia uhusiano kati ya kuambukizwa kwa fluoride wakati wa ujauzito na IQ ya watoto wenye umri wa miaka mitatu na minne. Wanasayansi walichunguza uwezekano wa kupatwa na fluoridi kwa njia mbili tofauti. Watafiti walipima fluoride katika sampuli za mkojo wa wanawake wakati wa ujauzito na pia walihesabu matumizi ya fluoride kulingana na kiasi cha fluoride katika maji ya jiji na jinsi wanawake walivyofikiria kunywa. Katika uchunguzi huo, walichunguza watoto wa kiume walio na mama na watoto wa kiume, na walipata kwamba kuongezeka kwa kiwango cha fluoridi ya mkojo wa mama kwa mg 1 kwa lita moja kwa siku kulihusisha kupungua kwa IQ kwa wavulana kwa pointi 4.49 kwa kila mwaka. "Wanahabari wa utafiti huo waligundua kuwa ""kufunikwa kwa fluoride wakati wa ujauzito kulihusishwa na alama za chini za IQ kwa watoto wenye umri wa miaka 3 hadi 4.""" "Kwa mujibu wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa utafiti wa." Katika kesi ya 20 Aprili, Mahakama ya Marekani ilitoa uamuzi dhidi ya Food and Water Watch na EPA. Hii ni mara ya kwanza kwa kundi lolote la raia kwenda mahakamani chini ya kifungu cha 21 cha Sheria ya Udhibiti wa Vitu vya sumu. "Wakili wa kesi hiyo aliomba marufuku ya kuongeza kemikali za fluoridation kwenye maji ili ""kuwalinda watu na watu walio hatarini kutokana na hatari za sumu ya neurotoxic ya fluoride"" na ""Kwa Flint na sasa fluoride nafasi ya haki, msaada na mabadiliko halisi kunyongwa katika usawa wa mfumo wa kisheria, jinsi gani umma kuja na suala la uchafuzi wa PFAS?"