Climate Emergency: US Drinking Water 'A Toxic Soup'

US drinking water is highly contaminated with chemicals linked to cancer, liver damage and birth defects research by the Environmental Working Group has found. 

Based on the report, and US EPA data, the group now disputes the number  Americans are contaminated with PFAS chemicals. Those are long chain compounds commercialised in the 1950s and used in non-stick coatings (Teflon), fire-fighting foam and waterproof fabrics. Official figures suggest that 110 million Americans are contaminated with the chemical, but this might just be a fraction of the real figure.

Long chain compound PFAS chemicals are highly resistant to breaking down in the environment and therefore extremely likely to contaminate fresh water sources, ending up in people, where they remain indefinitely.  Over time the level of PFAS chemicals in the body build up, with no real data to suggest what impact this has on the welfare of the individual. 

It's unlikely to be anything good.

The underlying truth is that contamination of water sources with these chemicals is so widespread it's highly likely that every person the planet has some level of PFAS contamination in their bodies. With no understanding of what the long-term impact might by this should be highly concerning to everybody, not just groups like the EWG.

The EWG has been criticised in the past for its strident calls for action on PFAS and questionable science.

However high concentrations of PFAS were determined to have a probable link to several diseases by the C8 Science Panel as part of the 2005-13 Ohio River Valley vs DuPont court case. That strongly supports the stance that the EWG has taken.

Whatever the arguments about the credibility of the EWG are; it is clear that there is a link between poor health outcomes and high concentrations of PFAS in the body. 

And a desperate need to do something to prevent further absorption of the chemical by humans, the animals and the plants in our food chains.