PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals found in many of your everyday items. These substances are a group of chemicals that don't break down in the environment or the human body, fittingly being named the "forever chemicals". It wouldn't be a problem since they weren't dangerous to us, but guess again. PFAS are linked to a range of serious health problems: Cancer, immune suppression, thyroid issues, and developmental delays. Even though the issue of PFAS is widespread, some communities have it worse than others.
According to a recent study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Black and Latino communities have marginally higher exposure to PFAS than other ethnicities. This conclusion was found through a series of tests in which they analyzed over 44,000 water samples across nearly 8,000 public water systems in 18 states. Through these studies the researchers found a clear connection between racial makeup and the risk of contamination.
In the area west of Spokane, residents are dealing with PFAS exposure in their groundwater. The source of this exposure was a military base nearby, much of it traced back to firefighting foam. Officials of that area were well aware of the contamination for years, but all efforts to address the issue have been slow. Residents of the area were completely unaware of the subject until recent times. According to the Seattle Times, the area of contamination is expanding, and the public is demanding answers.
In 2024, the EPA introduced the first national drinking water standard. This standard was for 6 of the PFAS compounds. These new set of rules enforced 4 parts per trillions for the most dangerous compound. These rules will also require the water be monitored and treated bythe PFAS by 2027. This was celebrated as a big step in environmental and health safety. However, the same rule they were going to bring to action in 2027 has been delayed to 2031 for many water systems.