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People who drink tap water warned as 'dangerous' substance found
People who drink tap water warned as 'dangerous' substance found

Wales Online

time14 hours ago

  • Health
  • Wales Online

People who drink tap water warned as 'dangerous' substance found

People who drink tap water warned as 'dangerous' substance found The warning comes as 60,000 people have been told they can't drink tap water for the rest of the year - and the warning is about to spread across Europe 60,000 residents of Alsace, eastern France, have been told by the local government that it had found dangerously high levels of PFAs A French region has issued a tap water ban, sparking concerns that it could serve as a "warning" for the rest of Europe. The local government in Alsace, eastern France, has alerted its 60,000 residents about dangerously high levels of PFAs – also known as 'forever chemicals' – detected in the water supply. Those considered to be in high-risk groups – including children under two, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women – have been advised to avoid consuming tap water for the remainder of the year. ‌ One local resident expressed their fears to the Guardian: "I find it scary. Even if we stop drinking it we will be exposed to it and we can't really do anything." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here ‌ Séverine Maistre, a resident of Saint-Louis who previously worked in clinical drug trials, believes this is just the beginning. "Currently we are talking about peaks here and there ... [But the chemicals] will be everywhere in France." "It will be the same in Germany, in Switzerland, in the UK, and everywhere." A 70 year old woman added: "Even if we are not fragile we are scared. We are terrorised – this is about water, without which we cannot live." Article continues below The Euro-Airport Basel-Mulhouse has been identified as the source of the significant increase in PFAs levels. According to a press release, the airport used firefighting foam treated with PFAS chemicals until 2017, Birmingham Live reports. These Icao (International Civil Aviation Organisation) certified firefighting foams were legally required until 2017. ‌ Since January 2017, the airport has ceased using foams containing PFAS. Thierry Litzler, vice-president of Saint-Louis urban area with responsibility for water in the district, said: "Things went quickly from the moment we had the information." He commented: "To know why a state service did do – or did not do – more than eight years ago, for me, it's not the subject of the moment ... I do not have the right to judge it today. ‌ "In France, we had faith in water – but that's broken," expressed Bruno Wollenschneider, head of Adra (Association de Défense des Riverains de l'Aéroport de Bâle Mulhouse), a residents' association with 200 members. "Authorities lied to us, they tricked us," he declared, adding: "The airport is responsible. "Water is a public good. The last thing is the law to force the authorities to act and make the airport pay – we don't have the choice. Article continues below "It is the first time in France where a commercial airport is known to be the cause of pollution. There are likely others," Wollenschneider revealed.

The French town that banned its tap water and the chemicals that could be in yours
The French town that banned its tap water and the chemicals that could be in yours

The Guardian

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • The Guardian

The French town that banned its tap water and the chemicals that could be in yours

Sandra Wiedemann was watching TV on a Saturday night when she first saw the news that the water where she lived was contaminated. Then, three days later – right at the end of April – it was made official. Sandra and 60,000 other residents of Alsace, eastern France, were told by the local government that it had found dangerously high levels of PFAs – or 'forever chemicals' – in the water. Those in high-risk groups – under-twos, immunocompromised people, pregnant women – were advised not to drink water from the taps for the rest of year. The Guardian's biodiversity reporter Phoebe Weston heads to Alsace to speak to residents and activists, and goes to the local spot that has caused the contamination. As she tells Helen Pidd, it's a story that is unlikely to be limited to Alsace. For PFAs are used on an industrial scale right around the world. Valued because they just don't break down, they are used in products from non-stick frying pans to waterproof jackets. But the same quality means they are now found right across the environment too – from in the water and earth beneath our feet to inside even our blood. So, if the water in Alsace has been deemed too dangerous to drink, what does it mean for the rest of the world?

The French town that banned its tap water and the chemicals that could be in yours
The French town that banned its tap water and the chemicals that could be in yours

The Guardian

time2 days ago

  • Health
  • The Guardian

The French town that banned its tap water and the chemicals that could be in yours

Sandra Wiedemann was watching TV on a Saturday night when she first saw the news that the water where she lived was contaminated. Then, three days later – right at the end of April – it was made official. Sandra and 60,000 other residents of Alsace, eastern France, were told by the local government that it had found dangerously high levels of PFAs – or 'forever chemicals' – in the water. Those in high-risk groups – under-twos, immunocompromised people, pregnant women – were advised not to drink water from the taps for the rest of year. The Guardian's biodiversity reporter Phoebe Weston heads to Alsace to speak to residents and activists, and goes to the local spot that has caused the contamination. As she tells Helen Pidd, it's a story that is unlikely to be limited to Alsace. For PFAs are used on an industrial scale right around the world. Valued because they just don't break down, they are used in products from non-stick frying pans to waterproof jackets. But the same quality means they are now found right across the environment too – from in the water and earth beneath our feet to inside even our blood. So, if the water in Alsace has been deemed too dangerous to drink, what does it mean for the rest of the world?

Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK
Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK

Yahoo

time20-06-2025

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK

Traces of a chemical that researchers fear could harm human reproduction have been found in dozens of Britain's rivers, a new study has warned. Researchers from York University found trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in 98% of locations in 32 rivers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. TFA is one of a family of more than 14,000 man-made chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which have been used since the 1940s in everything from waterproof clothing to non-stick frying pans, as well as cosmetics and food packaging. The chemicals can accumulate in people's bodies (as well as in the water we drink) and can lead to serious health issues including cancer, liver damage and harm to unborn children. The UK government launched an inquiry this year into the issue - but campaigners say not enough is being done. Natalie Sims, from the Royal Society of Chemistry, told Yahoo News: 'There is more that could be being done, and that is why we are calling for action.' The Royal Society of Chemistry has mapped levels of the chemicals in Britain's drinking waters, and is calling for the public to take action to raise the issue. 'The public can be really powerful, and I think we have seen that when we look at tackling sewage overflows, that's really been pushed up the government agenda, because the public is also pushing for it," Sims says. 'That's why we really want to take action now, and that's why there's been much more push for it from organisations like ourselves or others. In addition to developing alternative materials, we urgently need stronger, more robust controls to prevent further pollution and reduce our exposure to harmful substances in the environment.' PFAs are a group of thousands of chemicals that don't occur in nature and are extremely hard to get rid of. They also also toxic, even in small quantities. They have been used in manufacturing and consumer products since the 1940s. 'We've used them so extensively, really since the 1940s they found our way in so many different consumer products," Sims explains. "For example, in your waterproof coat, anything waterproofing, school children's clothing, anything stain resistant. PFAs have some desirable properties, and are so good at what they do in terms of that heat resistance, that water and oil resistance, stain resistance, durability, often a lot of the things that makes it very useful in products. 'Because they're so persistent, they obviously found their way into the environment, into our food, into our water. They are also used in jet engines, medical devices, refrigeration systems, the construction industry and electrical devices. In the environment, they can last for extremely long periods: hundreds or even thousands of years. They also accumulate in human bodies. 'Forever chemicals' have been phased out of some consumer products - but are still used in products such as non-stick frying pans and some packaging, although manufacturers tend to be reluctant to say exactly where they are used. The dangers attached to PFAs often comes when they are used industrially, or when products containing PFAs are disposed of inadequately, meaning they enter the water supply. In the UK, PFAs are most likely to be found in water near industrial sites including airports and areas that produce products which use PFAs. The Royal Society of Chemistry warns that contamination is likely near landfill sites where liquid contaminated with PFAs can leak out of the site, or near incinerators which often are not hot enough to fully burn chemicals can also be found near where firefighting foam is routinely used, including airports, military sites and fire-training areas. Some airports, including Heathrow, have already switched to using foam which does not contain PFAs. Wastewater sites can also leech PFAs into the water. The chemicals have been linked to serious health issues including liver damage, some cancers and harm to unborn children, thyroid disease and fertility issues. Large-scale studies have shown that PFAs in drinking water correlates with increased levels of cancer in multiple parts of the body. A review in the journal eBioMedicine linked PFAs exposure to decreased efficiency in vaccines, premature birth, increased severity of COVID-19, along with cancer, reduced immune function and developmental delays in children. Water companies in England and Wales must monitor and regulate 48 types of PFAs, despite there being thousands of varieties, with many remaining untested. But this Drinking Water Inspectorate ruling actually goes further than EU legislation. Individual PFAs concentrations in drinking water cannot exceed 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). This is 10 times higher than the Drinking Water Inspectorate's own 'low risk' threshold of 10 ng/L. In the US, there are limits of 4 ng/L for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAs, and the EU states that 20 widespread PFAs must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L. The Royal Society of Chemistry has called for new limits on the amounts of PFAs permissible in drinking water. Specifically the RSC has called for a new limit of 10 ng/L for individual PFAs. The RSC has also called for stricter controls over the sources of PFAs including in industrial discharges, with a national chemicals regulator to monitor and regulate discharges. Sims says: 'An RSC survey of more than 4,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov in August showed nine in ten Britons believe it's 'very important' to keep PFAS out of our food, water and environment. The public do want action on this, which I think is really powerful when it comes to speaking to the government. 'In terms of industry, having them push to develop alternatives, because they've had these chemicals that they've been allowed to use for so long, in terms of because they're so good at what they do, it's trying to transition that away into more, safer and sort of sustainable alternatives. Sims says that it's also vital that British people have a clearer picture of the chemicals in the water they drink. She says: 'PFAS are contained in many products and ingredients that are made or imported to the UK for use across many industries. However, we do not have a full picture of how PFAS enter and move within the supply chain. 'It's likely that the exposure you have on the everyday is going to be quite low, but it's that long term build up where, for one thing, it can be really challenging to pinpoint where those adverse effects could come from.'

Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK
Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK

Yahoo

time20-06-2025

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Drinking water map shows where toxic ‘forever chemicals' are found in the UK

Traces of a chemical that researchers fear could harm human reproduction have been found in dozens of Britain's rivers, a new study has warned. Researchers from York University found trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in 98% of locations in 32 rivers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. TFA is one of a family of more than 14,000 man-made chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), which have been used since the 1940s in everything from waterproof clothing to non-stick frying pans, as well as cosmetics and food packaging. The chemicals can accumulate in people's bodies (as well as in the water we drink) and can lead to serious health issues including cancer, liver damage and harm to unborn children. The UK government launched an inquiry this year into the issue - but campaigners say not enough is being done. Natalie Sims, from the Royal Society of Chemistry, told Yahoo News: 'There is more that could be being done, and that is why we are calling for action.' The Royal Society of Chemistry has mapped levels of the chemicals in Britain's drinking waters, and is calling for the public to take action to raise the issue. 'The public can be really powerful, and I think we have seen that when we look at tackling sewage overflows, that's really been pushed up the government agenda, because the public is also pushing for it," Sims says. 'That's why we really want to take action now, and that's why there's been much more push for it from organisations like ourselves or others. In addition to developing alternative materials, we urgently need stronger, more robust controls to prevent further pollution and reduce our exposure to harmful substances in the environment.' PFAs are a group of thousands of chemicals that don't occur in nature and are extremely hard to get rid of. They also also toxic, even in small quantities. They have been used in manufacturing and consumer products since the 1940s. 'We've used them so extensively, really since the 1940s they found our way in so many different consumer products," Sims explains. "For example, in your waterproof coat, anything waterproofing, school children's clothing, anything stain resistant. PFAs have some desirable properties, and are so good at what they do in terms of that heat resistance, that water and oil resistance, stain resistance, durability, often a lot of the things that makes it very useful in products. 'Because they're so persistent, they obviously found their way into the environment, into our food, into our water. They are also used in jet engines, medical devices, refrigeration systems, the construction industry and electrical devices. In the environment, they can last for extremely long periods: hundreds or even thousands of years. They also accumulate in human bodies. 'Forever chemicals' have been phased out of some consumer products - but are still used in products such as non-stick frying pans and some packaging, although manufacturers tend to be reluctant to say exactly where they are used. The dangers attached to PFAs often comes when they are used industrially, or when products containing PFAs are disposed of inadequately, meaning they enter the water supply. In the UK, PFAs are most likely to be found in water near industrial sites including airports and areas that produce products which use PFAs. The Royal Society of Chemistry warns that contamination is likely near landfill sites where liquid contaminated with PFAs can leak out of the site, or near incinerators which often are not hot enough to fully burn PFAs. The chemicals can also be found near where firefighting foam is routinely used, including airports, military sites and fire-training areas. Some airports, including Heathrow, have already switched to using foam which does not contain PFAs. Wastewater sites can also leech PFAs into the water. The chemicals have been linked to serious health issues including liver damage, some cancers and harm to unborn children, thyroid disease and fertility issues. Large-scale studies have shown that PFAs in drinking water correlates with increased levels of cancer in multiple parts of the body. A review in the journal eBioMedicine linked PFAs exposure to decreased efficiency in vaccines, premature birth, increased severity of COVID-19, along with cancer, reduced immune function and developmental delays in children. Water companies in England and Wales must monitor and regulate 48 types of PFAs, despite there being thousands of varieties, with many remaining untested. But this Drinking Water Inspectorate ruling actually goes further than EU legislation. Individual PFAs concentrations in drinking water cannot exceed 100 nanograms per litre (ng/L). This is 10 times higher than the Drinking Water Inspectorate's own 'low risk' threshold of 10 ng/L. In the US, there are limits of 4 ng/L for each of PFOS and PFOA, two of the most common PFAs, and the EU states that 20 widespread PFAs must collectively not exceed 100 ng/L. The Royal Society of Chemistry has called for new limits on the amounts of PFAs permissible in drinking water. Specifically the RSC has called for a new limit of 10 ng/L for individual PFAs. The RSC has also called for stricter controls over the sources of PFAs including in industrial discharges, with a national chemicals regulator to monitor and regulate discharges. Sims says: 'An RSC survey of more than 4,000 UK adults, carried out by YouGov in August showed nine in ten Britons believe it's 'very important' to keep PFAS out of our food, water and environment. The public do want action on this, which I think is really powerful when it comes to speaking to the government. 'In terms of industry, having them push to develop alternatives, because they've had these chemicals that they've been allowed to use for so long, in terms of because they're so good at what they do, it's trying to transition that away into more, safer and sort of sustainable alternatives. Sims says that it's also vital that British people have a clearer picture of the chemicals in the water they drink. She says: 'PFAS are contained in many products and ingredients that are made or imported to the UK for use across many industries. However, we do not have a full picture of how PFAS enter and move within the supply chain. 'It's likely that the exposure you have on the everyday is going to be quite low, but it's that long term build up where, for one thing, it can be really challenging to pinpoint where those adverse effects could come from.'

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