After discovering dangerous chemicals called PFAS in the nearby water, Maya Joshi and Anishka Prasad didn't wait for businesses or legislators to take action; instead they built a solution themselves. The two teenagers combined chemistry and machines to create an inexpensive, environmentally friendly substance that removes PFAS from water. In addition to winning international recognition, their efforts sparked discussions about youth-led activism and innovation in the fight against harmful pollution.
The Environmental Working Group reported in 2024 that PFAS were detected in drinking water tests from twelve Maryland public schools. PFAS levels in eight of the schools exceeded the EPA's suggested threshold. Children, whose developing bodies are extremely vulnerable, are put at much greater risk when these toxins are found in school cafeterias and water fountains.
Students in North Carolina pushed for the installation of new filtration systems after presenting their findings of PFAS-contaminated school water systems at a city council meeting. They were able to get local officials to approve funding for new filtration systems and committed to routine water testing.
In several areas, petitions to ban PFAS in cleaning products, sports equipment, and lunch boxes have been successful. On college campuses like the University of California, student activists successfully persuaded the dining hall to phase out PFAS-lined food containers.