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Pollution: 'Forever chemicals' in rainwater exceed safe levels

• timcavel 4y ago
• sp332 4y ago
  I can't figure out what they're worried about? These chemicals last "forever" because they are chemically inert. I've seen worries about byproducts from manufacturing, but people are raising alarms about levels of PFAS chemicals themselves with no conclusive evidence that they do anything at all.
  • superchroma 4y ago
    There is a growing body of evidence that this class of chemicals are problematic. It is difficult to speak generally as there are over 4000 of them. The EU remarks "Of the relatively few well-studied PFAS, most are considered moderately to highly toxic, particularly for children’s development"[1] and estimate costs of up to EUR 52-84 billion from health related effects. Readily available non-stick coatings for consumers are not worth that price. [1] https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/emerging-chemical-risks-in-europe https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/emerging-chemical-ris...
  • inphovore 4y ago
    This is the crazy delusional thinking that dooms us all. Can’t figure it out? With everything we can’t figure out, when is corrupting the natural world with our byproducts not conclusively a bad idea? By default? Please don’t let our careless ignorance define our relationship with the natural world. Be afraid of human incompetence!
    • sp332 4y ago
      Wondering or worrying about it is one thing. Claiming we're already above safe levels with no evidence is different.