For decades, environmental activists have been fighting for justice across many fields of concern. From access to clean water to forest preservation, there is no shortage of awareness for environmental justice. Recently, however, there has been a new cause that has required the attention of activists. Access to public drinking water, which is still being fought for and improved upon, has created new concern as to what specifically is found in that water. While most public access water is thought to be safe, new evidence has shown this isn't always the case. Now, a new focus on PFAS has started a new chapter in the fight for environmental justice.
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They're often found in runoff water systems or contaminated by industrial systems, such as military areas, consumer products, agricultural systems, and more. PFAS are most known because of the growing concern about their health effects, specifically due to their persistence. These chemicals have easy access to the human body due to their presence in drinking water, making them a national cause for concern. It has been estimated that roughly two hundred million residents have been exposed to PFAS through their drinking water. Exposure to PFAS can have drastic effects on the body, especially for those pregnant and the fetus. PFAS have been known for causing lower birth weights, delays in mammary gland growth, and lower responses of the fetus to vaccines. For those who are pregnant, exposure can increase the risk of a miscarriage, lengthen the pregnancy term, and increase blood pressure. Regardless of pregnancy, PFAS have been known to be risk factors for cancers, including testicular, breast, and kidney cancers.
Exposure to PFAS can come in many forms, but is often due to leaks from landfills, septic systems, and industrial facilities. These leaks then spread to the environment or are included in consumer goods, which leads to individual exposure. It's also possible for PFAS to be transferred via breastfeeding to infants. This exposure alone is proof that PFAS pose a real threat to public health, but some environmental activists have found further cause for alarm. There have been some concerns that PFAS disproportionately affect certain communities along sociodemographic lines.
One study conducted by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that areas with greater percentages of Hispanic and Black residents have a higher chance of being exposed to PFAS in the United States. The study took place over nearly eight thousand communities' water systems from across eighteen states, resulting in forty-four thousand water samples taken over six years. Upon analysis, it was found that roughly a fourth of the communities were being exposed to what the EPA may consider "dangerous" PFAS levels. Concerningly, when compared to sociodemographics, it was discovered that there was a positive correlation between PFAS contamination and the percentage of the community that is people of color.
In March of 2023, the EPA established level limits on two PFAS, PFOS and PFOA, capping off at four parts per trillion, as well as lesser limits on four other PFAS. This attempt to protect citizens from PFAS has followed the creation of organizations and legal actions. The creation of CERCLA has been the leading legal force observing and measuring environmental hazards, such as chemicals, within the United States. President Biden passed Executive Order 13985 in 2021, which aimed to support racial equity on a federal level. He also started the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council to create a space for those discriminated against to have a voice in federal action.