PFOS - Per Fluoro Octane Sulfonic acid Wikimedia Commons
Once people understand more about the science behind these “forever chemicals” they’ll understand the horror. It cannot be overstated. PFOS is a powerful endocrine disrupting chemical. According to the Endocrine Society, “A well-established body of scientific research indicates that endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are part of our daily lives are making us more susceptible to reproductive disorders, cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and other serious health conditions.”
California warns that PFOS can cause cancer. The state says it causes birth defects and other reproductive harm.
The National Institutes of Health figures there are 69 disorders and diseases associated with PFOS exposure, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, thyroid diseases, and infertility.
This is a great human health crisis.
Who knew?
PFOS may travel many miles in water and it bio accumulates in fish up to 4,000 times the levels in the water, according to the EPA. This means the presence of PFOS in single digits of parts per trillion in shallow streams, a normal occurrence in Europe and worldwide, presents a universal threat to human health. Minnows and small sunfish have been found with hundreds of thousands of parts per trillion and although we don’t eat them, the larger fish do.
A Redbreast Sunfish, caught close to the source of the contamination in Piscataway Creek, contained 359,000 ppt. of PFOS. Little fishes get eaten by big fishes.
A Largemouth Bass contained 94,200 ppt of PFOS in its filet where Piscataway Creek flows into the Potomac River. It is a favorite sport fish for charter fishing boats. Sunfish is their prey of choice.
The chemicals that flow into streams from contaminated sites become part of the sediment, poisoning the tiny invertebrates and the entire food chain. When the streams flood, the carcinogens coat the banks.
When water levels recede, the poisonous sediment bakes in the sun. The toxic particles are lifted by the wind to settle in our lungs and in our homes as carcinogenic dust.
The Centers for Disease Control reported that dust in people’s homes near contamination sites contained 13.9 million parts per trillion of PFOS. Dust is believed to be the number one pathway of exposure for toddlers.
People living near industrial and military sites where these substances continue to be recklessly used must not allow dust to become airborne when they clean their homes. Brooms and vacuums are out. Wet mops are in. Air filters must be changed regularly. PFAS is also raining from the sky to pollute our rivers and fish. Researchers in Cleveland, Ohio found rainwater containing 1,000 ppt of PFAS.