"A global survey found harmful levels even in water samples taken far any obvious source of contamination."

"They’re in makeup, dental floss and menstrual products. They’re in nonstick pans and takeout food wrappers. Same with rain jackets and firefighting equipment, as well as pesticides and artificial turf on sports fields.

They’re PFAS: a class of man-made chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are also called “forever chemicals” because the bonds in their chemical compounds are so strong they don’t break down for hundreds to thousands of years, if at all.

They’re also in our water.

A new study of more than 45,000 water samples around the world found that about 31 percent of groundwater samples tested that weren’t near any obvious source of contamination had PFAS levels considered harmful to human health by the Environmental Protection Agency.

About 16 percent of surface water samples tested, which were also not near any known source, had similarly hazardous PFAS levels."

Delger Erdenesanaa reports for the New York Times April 8, 2024. [2]