Experts are currently sounding the alarm. According to a study, nearly half of the tap water in the United States is contaminated with substances that are extremely harmful to health.
So the culprits are so-called eternal chemicals, a study published this week by the US Science Agency USGS claims to have discovered.
So-called per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are found in at least 45 percent of national tap water. About 75 percent of the tap water in U.S. cities is affected, compared to 25 percent in rural areas.
Private and public sources have been affected
For the study, published in the journal Environment International, the scientists took samples from 716 representative sites across the country. Although there are more than 12,000 types of “eternal chemicals”, the research focused on 32 types. According to the study, it makes no difference whether the tap water comes from private or public sources.
Hardly degradable
The group of per- and polyfluorinated substances is commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because these substances decompose extremely slowly. They are used in the manufacture of numerous industrial and consumer products, including carpets, waterproof clothing, cosmetics, shampoos, pizza boxes and toilet paper. However, the substances are harmful and can cause cancer and other health problems.
Source: Krone
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