Dangerous chemicals found in 99% of bottled waters worldwide
Until today, we thought that bottled water would protect us from forever chemicals, but we couldn’t have been more wrong. New studies show that 99% of bottled waters around the world contain forever chemicals, including PFAS.
PFAS, or Forever Chemicals as most call them, are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a variety of products due to their water-repellent and stain-resistant properties. However, the chemicals that provide these properties never break down. Hence the name Forever Chemicals.
These chemicals can cause a multitude of health problems when they come into contact with our bodies for long periods. Now, the new study found these chemicals in 99% of bottled waters worldwide and has caused a sensation.
The study was published in ACS ES&T Water and presents a very indicative picture of the extensive pollution from forever Chemicals in various brands of bottled water. At the same time, it highlights the need for immediate action from regulatory authorities to monitor these chemicals, as they must be brought under control.
For years, we have seen a variety of solutions for forever chemicals, including ways to fully break them down so that these chemicals can be removed from water. However, these are small solutions in the face of the huge problem of detecting forever chemicals in almost all brands of bottled water, which means that all these years we have been slowly poisoning ourselves with such a necessary good as water.
The findings came from 87 different brands in 15 countries, as well as from 55 samples of tap water in the United Kingdom and China. The study shows that just because water is natural, it doesn’t mean it is immune to forever chemicals. In fact, the researchers discovered the exact opposite.
The discovery that forever chemicals are present in the water we drink has already fueled more research, while it has sparked discussions about policy and regulatory controls. At the same time, scientists are looking for ways to get rid of these harmful chemicals.
If you do not know what forever chemicals are, the European Chemicals Agency states:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large category of thousands of synthetic chemical substances used throughout society. However, they are increasingly detected as environmental pollutants, and some are linked to negative effects on human health.
All of them contain carbon-fluorine compounds, which are among the strongest chemical compounds in organic chemistry. This means that they break down slowly both during their use and when they are found in the environment. Also, most PFAS easily transfer to the environment, covering large distances away from their source of release.
The contamination of groundwater, surface water, and soil by PFAS is a phenomenon that is often observed. The cleanup of contaminated sites is technically challenging and costly. If releases continue, they will continue to accumulate in the environment, drinking water, and food.
The study was published in ACS ES&T Water.
