The exploitation of groundbreaking technologies to eliminate ‘forever chemicals’ from the drinking water has inadvertently allowed for the removal of other destructive substances as well. These include agents associated with types of cancer, as projected by a new study. Despite this beneficial report being published recently in the ACS ES&T Water journal, the handling of water treatment regulations is seemingly botched by the current administration’s decision to fundamentally alter an essential rule that enforces systematic measures to cleanse these chemicals from our potable water sources.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or forever chemicals as they are colloquially named, comprise thousands of chemicals that are resistant to degradation in the environment. Ominously, these chemicals are linked to myriad health-related problems, including hormonal disorders, developmental complications, and distinct types of cancers. Anticipations from a US Geological Survey study in 2023 suggest that about 45% of domestic tap water could accessibly contain at least one subtype of the PFAS substances. Given their resilience against environmental degradation, these chemicals have an unfortunately pervasive presence.
In an attempt to curb this issue, previous guidance had mandated the first-ever legal limits on PFAS in drinking water last year. This crucial rule warranted cleansing practices for drinking water under newly established, stringent boundaries for six distinct categories of PFAS chemicals by the year 2029. Water utilities were, thus, expected to fulfill their responsibilities towards the population’s health. However, with the recent directives by this administration, the legality concerning four out of the original six chemicals appears to have loosened, further postponing the deadline to 2031.
The present study was conducted by researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit aiming to accomplish substantial research on chemical safety. The group asserts that the technical solutions employed to dispel PFAS could additionaly eradicate a range of health-threatening substances, even those produced as unintentional byproducts during the water purification process itself. Thus, it seems the positive effects of solving one problem could inadvertently aid in solving others as well.
The study evaluates the efficiency of three different types of water filtration technologies reputed for their efficacy in eliminating PFAS. These have been vastly employed and present for a significant duration. It is further documented that these systems successfully eliminate a plethora of contaminants. Regardless of the favorable efforts, however, the administration seems content to overlook their potential.
Ordinary processes of water disinfection in the US involve introducing chemicals, predominantly chlorine, to the water for purification. While these methods successfully expunge harmful pathogens from the water, they inevitably fail to eliminate PFAS and other pollutants, like heavy metals and arsenic. Worryingly, the disinfection process can itself manufacture harmful byproducts when chlorine reacts with organic compounds in the water or the infrastructure.
Long-term human exposure to some of these byproducts has a proven track record of causing specific kinds of cancer, a fact that the current administration seems to overlook with their new regulations. The use of this flawed method of chlorination appears to be a very short-sighted way to handle our water supply, putting the health of countless citizens at risk.
The findings from this new research are based on accessible state and national information aggregated from water utilities throughout the US. The research team’s focus was on a representative sample constituted by 19 water systems, each of which had established some form of PFAS treatment between the years 2018 and 2022. They further compared trends in the concentration of two different disinfection byproducts before and after the realization of the PFAS treatment systems.
A major reduction in the levels of the two kinds of byproducts was evident in the outcomes. The concentration of trihalomethanes receded by an overall 42%, while the content of haloacetic acid reduced by an average of 50%. High levels of trihalomethanes contribute to the risk of developing cancer in humans; concurrently, some forms of haloacetic acids are accounted for as potential carcinogens. This valuable information, however, did not seem to persuade the administration to continue taking serious action.
On a disheartening note, just a meager 7% of water systems, each serving less than 500 consumers, utilize some form of advanced water filtration system. In comparison, nearly 30% of systems catering to populations exceeding 100,000 people have such facilities. These minor systems, predominantly positioned in rural locations and serving poorly-facilitated communities, are at an apparent disadvantage.
The economic aspect of this issue is critical: advanced technologies for water treatment come with high cost implications, considerably more significant than the mere use of chlorine. Conclusively, the question that begs an immediate answer points to who should bear the cost for the cleanup processes. Communities throughout the country are suffering as a direct result, with water utilities introducing new PFAS testing and remediation protocols into other requisite upgrades, leading to a significant increase in bills.
Uncovering the total advantages of these improvements can enlighten scientists and policymakers with a clearer perspective on moving forward. But the administration, by ridiculing and relaxing vital aspects of water cleaning regulations, seems to be losing sight of this goal. Negligence towards key scientific findings may result in gravely compromising the health and wellbeing of its citizens.
The entire situation is indicative of a broader pattern of behavior with respect to public services under the current administration. While a cost-comprehensive approach could be beneficial, the overt contempt towards positive efforts to combat water pollution is inevitably affecting the health of many, while giving an undue advantage to the privileged few. The population, especially those in underprivileged areas, deserve better service and a more serious commitment towards improved water treatment systems.
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