Cancer-Causing Chemicals Polluting The Water For Millions of Americans

[doitvoluntarily]

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.

The Washington non-profit, with help from the University, recently sought to document the extent of the pollution of PFAS around the country.

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.

a graphic detailing the awareness of the contamination over the years

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...

Some regions have already turned to install filtration systems to address the problem by using an enclosed carbon filtering system. And others have turned to look for alternative sources of water.

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:
Pixabay
giphy
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

Related Posts:

Harmful Amount Of Lead Found In Tap Water For Hundreds of Chicago Homes

https://steemit.com/health/@doitvoluntarily/harmful-amount-of-lead-found-in-tap-water-for-hundreds-of-chicago-homes

Comments

[awakeningartist]

Probably one of the main components of water in our so called "developed country"

[scaredycatguide]

Damn, was so close to dogging any of the hot zones and then a red dot showed up in south east florida right at the end :-(

[windrockswater]

I have a Big Berkey, a little pricey for the replacement filters but a hell of a lot cheaper than bottled water and disease treatments. Thank you for your post and raising the alarm. We certainly have to become more reliant on ourselves and each other than ever before. Peace and good-will.

[karenmckersie]

This is very serious stuff and has been happening for a long time I believe here in parts of Canada as well , who knows how far and wide it is really !? there seems to be a lot of people dying of cancer though in some areas more then others . Great post , very informative ! thanks for sharing @doitvoluntarily , upped earlier now resteemed !👍👍👍

[factotumk]

Thanks for the post @doitvoluntarily

This reminds me of Flint but also some articles other I've read in the past. Hopefully they clean this up more expeditiously:

"Open Burns, Ill Winds" by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, July 20, 2017:

"While there has been measured progress in certain places, and certainly some success stories, the Pentagon’s annual environmental funding has been steadily dropping. It received $780 million less in 2015 than it did in 2011. Under the Trump administration Defense Department spending is slated to increase, but there’s no indication that means more money will be spent on the environment. In fact, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has signaled, when it comes to Superfund enforcement, that he may weaken the standards the Pentagon is held to."

"Toxic Fires: Across the Country, Military Sites Burn Hazardous Waste Into Open Air by Hilary Fung, Abrahm Lustgarten and Lena Groeger, ProPublica, July 20, 2017:

"Virtually every day, the Department of Defense and its contractors burn and detonate unused munitions and raw explosives in the open air with no environmental emissions controls, often releasing toxins near water sources and schools. The facilities operate under legal permits, but their potentially harmful effects for human health aren’t well researched, and EPA records obtained by ProPublica show that these sites have violated their hazardous waste permits thousands of times."

"Court determines military burn pits caused lung disease in service members" by Perry Chiaramonte, Fox News, February 15, 2018:

"A judge under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office for Workers’ Compensation Programs decreed last month that open-air burn pits -- where thousands of chemicals were released into the air after trash and other waste were incinerated at American military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are connected to lung disease, Fox News has learned..."

"Soldiers have fallen gravely ill or even died from exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan and Iraq, but they are not the only ones who have gotten sick. Civilian workers and private contractors like Landry are also suffering an array of maladies including cancer, respiratory problems and blood disorders and, like military victims, they say they are being ignored."

[jlsplatts]

I’ve been rolling with the Big Berkey water filter for years. I will have to check and see if it gets rid of PFAS or not. Thanks for the info 👍🏻👍🏻

[guiridelaghetto]

Not just in water but they contaminate the skies, they put a lot of chemicals in our food and who knows where else?
They make us sick, you get "cured", you get sick... a cycle that never ends

[quantshaman]

Activated charcoal can be added (and changed out from time to time) at the top of the bead media in home water softener systems of certain brands. In a properly designed system the softened water then goes thru the reverse osmosis filter. Kinetico was the top brand of home system a few years ago, not sure now.
P.S. they are trying to kill us all, since the system cannot keep paying geezers living to 90 and beyond drawing Social inSecurity.

[wal.wal]

very good post brother 👍....

[lovelivinglife]

Activated carbon/charcoal is amazing for so many things.
Pollution is world wide problem affecting all our water ways.

[hanamana]

Hi,

I will keep this in mind:

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.

I definitely believe and practice in filtering water.

[anna-mi]

It's so scary, really. Sometimes I think our civilization is going to collapse. Innovation is growing, but the decline of many systems is evident. Too much impact on the environment. And it threatens us all with disaster.

[allesia]

Hi,
It is a very interesting report. It is important to drink filtered water for our health. Not just water, but unhealthy food can cause cancer.
Cheers

[laura97]

Hi @doitvoluntarily. I do not want to be pessimistic, but many substances are being disseminated, not only in water, but also in the air. With all my heart, I hope that mankind will change its course, for their own good and the planet. Good post, Thanks. Greetings.