(NaturalHealth365) What do Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans and the northern New Jersey suburbs all have in common? According to tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), these major metropolitan areas have the highest levels of manmade “forever chemicals” in the U.S.  Forever chemcials, otherwise known as perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have been linked to cancers, liver damage, kidney disease, low birth weight, autoimmune disorders, and a host of other health problems.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently suggested that U.S. drinking water contamination by “forever chemicals” is far worse that previously estimated.  In fact, data compiled in 2018 suggested that roughly 110 million Americans could be contaminated by PFAS.

In truth, with over 700-PFAS contaminated sites in America, it’s nearly impossible to avoid contaminated drinking water.

Forever chemicals: What are PFAS and how dangerous are they?

“Forever chemicals” can be found in the least suspecting places, and the risk level to exposure has become a serious public health crisis.  Environmental attorney, Robert Bilott exposes the sickening facts about our contaminated water supply in this exclusive interview with Jonathan Landsman, creator of NaturalHealth365.

The class of roughly 4,700 synthetic chemicals, which have been in production and used in commercial products since WWII, were used to make Teflon, Scotchgard, and firefighting foam. PFOA and PFOS are the most notorious “forever chemicals,” and before they were phased out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they were recognized as global pollutants, linked to several toxic injury chemical cases against DuPont, one of the largest polluters of PFAS.

Today, versions of PFAS are found in stain-resistant carpets, couches, ski wax, rainproof coats, non-stick cookware, and food packaging.  Pizza boxes and microwave popcorn bags contain high levels PFAS, and “forever chemicals” keep your burger from sticking to its fast-food wrapper.

Simply put, PFAS are created by joining carbon and flourine – one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry – which then make everyday objects resistant to heat, moisture, and stains.

Rain, food, sewage sludge that farmers spread on cropland as fertilizer – tests have revealed dangerous levels of PFAS in all sorts of everyday objects. In fact, PFAS are so ubiquitous that it’s estimated that “forever chemicals” are in 99 percent of Americans’ blood!

Warning: Dark water dangers

PFAS earned the moniker “forever chemicals” because they take thousands of years to degrade, which, according to some researchers, suggests that nearly every source of surface water in the country is contaminated. Alarmingly persistent and mobile, “forever chemicals” leach through the soil to drinking water, threatening the health of people, wildlife, and the environment.

Recent testing shows that high PFAS levels exist in drinking water in 34 U.S. cities, and of the tap water samples taken from 44 places in 31 states, only one location had no detectable PFAS. More alarming still, the average household water filter isn’t capable of removing PFAS from the tap.

Tests suggest that there’s more than enough evidence for the EPA to establish a drinking water standard, or at the very least, phase out chemicals that have been linked to harmful health effects. But until pollution safeguards are put into place, Big Business is held accountable and forced to report their harmful chemical releases, and consumers make greener choices, a toxic-free future seems forever out of reach.

Sources for this article include:

TheGuardian.com
NationalGeographic.com