“Think Brita filter, but a thousand times better.”
Credit: University of British Columbia
A new treatment removes 99% of the harmful “forever chemicals” in water cheaply, safely, and permanently — ensuring they never end up back in the environment.
“Think Brita filter, but a thousand times better,” said Madjid Mohseni, the researcher who developed the technology at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
The challenge: “Forever chemicals” is a term used to describe per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in everything from carpets to fast food containers.
Exposure to high levels of PFAS has been linked to many health problems, including some types of cancer.
The “forever” moniker is appropriate because these substances do not degrade easily, and their persistence — combined with their widespread use — means PFAS can now be detected in our air, soil, drinking water, and even our blood.
Because exposure to high levels of PFAS has been linked to many health problems, including reproductive issues, high blood pressure, and some types of cancer, the EPA is starting to crack down on them, most recently with a proposal to limit the level of forever chemicals in water.
There isn’t a great way to get […]
Full article: www.freethink.com
