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    drinking water

    3M Knew PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Its Firefighting Foams Were Toxic for Decades, Documents Reveal

    3M Knew PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Its Firefighting Foams Were Toxic for Decades, Documents Reveal
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    For decades, 3M — a multibillion-dollar chemical company based in Minnesota — sold its firefighting foams as safe and biodegradable, while having knowledge that they contained toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to newly uncovered documents, reported The Guardian. Starting in the 1960s and continuing until 2003, 3M’s firefighting foams contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) […]

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      Maryland Sues Maker of Waterproof Material Gore-Tex Over Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Pollution

      Maryland Sues Maker of Waterproof Material Gore-Tex Over Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Pollution
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      Maryland is suing W.L. Gore & Associates, the maker of Gore-Tex — a waterproof material often used in outdoor gear such as raincoats — alleging its leaders continued to use per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” long after they learned of the chemicals’ serious health risks. The complaint filed in federal court last week […]

      ‘Forever Chemical’ TFA Detected in Mineral Water Brands in Europe

      ‘Forever Chemical’ TFA Detected in Mineral Water Brands in Europe
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      A new report from Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe revealed the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in mineral water products sourced from around Europe. Researchers tested 19 mineral water samples in total, including two mineral water brands from France, four Belgian brands, one brand from the Netherlands, […]

      Higher PFAS Levels in Blood Linked to Neighborhood Factors

      Higher PFAS Levels in Blood Linked to Neighborhood Factors
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      In a new study, researchers at University of Southern California (USC) have associated certain neighborhood factors — such as food access or proximity to Superfund sites — with higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human blood. The researchers examined the levels of certain types of PFAS, including PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFPeS and […]

      It’s Raining PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Miami, Study Finds

      It’s Raining PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Miami, Study Finds
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      A new study has found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Miami’s rainwater. It is the most recent evidence that “forever chemicals” get caught up in the water cycle and circulate over great distances. “PFAS are practically everywhere,” said Natalia Soares Quinete, author of the study and an assistant professor of chemistry at Florida International […]

      Millions of People in Lower 48 States May Be Relying on PFAS-Contaminated Groundwater for Drinking

      Millions of People in Lower 48 States May Be Relying on PFAS-Contaminated Groundwater for Drinking
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      Roughly 71 to 95 million people living in the contiguous United States — more than one-fifth of the population — may be reliant on groundwater with detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for their drinking water, according to a new study by the U.S Geological Survey (USGS). The research provides the first national […]

      Scientists Detect PFAS in Bottled and Tap Water Around the World

      Scientists Detect PFAS in Bottled and Tap Water Around the World
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      In a new study, scientists detected the presence of 10 target per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), in samples of tap water from the UK and China as well as in bottled waters from 15 countries. The study, published in the journal ACS ES&T Water, […]

      Community Groups, Neighbors and Volunteers Mobilize in Aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina

      Community Groups, Neighbors and Volunteers Mobilize in Aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina
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      Since Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 26, at least 227 people have died, with many still missing and thousands displaced. Homes and businesses in western North Carolina were destroyed, and some are still living without power, internet and safe drinking water. Aid sent by governments and larger nonprofits can sometimes take a […]

      Judge Orders EPA to Consider Risk Posed by Fluoridated Water to Children’s IQs

      Judge Orders EPA to Consider Risk Posed by Fluoridated Water to Children’s IQs
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      The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been ordered by a federal judge to strengthen regulations surrounding fluoride in drinking water. In San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen took the side of several advocacy groups to find that, at current levels, fluoridating drinking water supplies presented an unreasonable risk to the developing brains […]