US Drinking Water Contaminated with 'Forever Chemicals'
2020-01-23
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1A new report says man-made "forever chemicals" are more common in U.S. drinking water supplies than earlier estimates suggested.
2An environmental group reported Wednesday that some of the highest levels were measured in three big cities.
3They are Miami, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New Orleans, Louisiana.
4"Forever chemicals," known as PFAS, resist breaking down in the environment.
5They have possible links to cancer, liver damage and other health problems.
6The findings of the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, show its 2018 estimate could be far too low.
7That estimate suggested that 110 million Americans could be contaminated with PFAS.
8"It's nearly impossible to avoid contaminated drinking water from these chemicals," said David Andrews, a scientist with the Environmental Working Group.
9He helped prepare the new report.
10The chemicals were used in products like Teflon and Scotchguard.
11Their replacements also could prove harmful to human health.
12The EWG studied tap water from 44 areas in 31 states and Washington, D.C.
13Tap water is a term for water from the public water system.
14Of the 44 water samples, only one area had no measurable levels of PFAS.
15That community was Meridian, Mississippi, which gets its drinking water from wells that are 215 meters underground.
16Only Seattle, Washington and Tuscaloosa, Alabama had levels below 1 part per trillion, the limit the EWG suggests.
17EWG found an average of six to seven different PFAS chemical compounds at the tested sites.
18The effect of these mixtures on human health is unclear.
19But Andrews used negative language to describe the chemicals.
20"Everyone's really exposed to a toxic soup of these PFAS chemicals," he said.
21The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has known since at least 2001 about the problem of PFAS in drinking water.
22But the agency has yet to set a national legal limit.
23EPA officials said early last year they would begin the process of setting limits on two of the chemicals, PFOA and PFOS.
24The EPA said it has helped state governments deal with PFAS and that it is working to set limits on the two main chemicals.
25But the timing for such limits remains unclear.
26I'm John Russell.
1A new report says man-made "forever chemicals" are more common in U.S. drinking water supplies than earlier estimates suggested. 2An environmental group reported Wednesday that some of the highest levels were measured in three big cities. They are Miami, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New Orleans, Louisiana. 3"Forever chemicals," known as PFAS, resist breaking down in the environment. They have possible links to cancer, liver damage and other health problems. 4The findings of the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, show its 2018 estimate could be far too low. That estimate suggested that 110 million Americans could be contaminated with PFAS. 5"It's nearly impossible to avoid contaminated drinking water from these chemicals," said David Andrews, a scientist with the Environmental Working Group. He helped prepare the new report. 6The chemicals were used in products like Teflon and Scotchguard. Their replacements also could prove harmful to human health. 7The EWG studied tap water from 44 areas in 31 states and Washington, D.C. Tap water is a term for water from the public water system. 8Of the 44 water samples, only one area had no measurable levels of PFAS. That community was Meridian, Mississippi, which gets its drinking water from wells that are 215 meters underground. 9Only Seattle, Washington and Tuscaloosa, Alabama had levels below 1 part per trillion, the limit the EWG suggests. EWG found an average of six to seven different PFAS chemical compounds at the tested sites. 10The effect of these mixtures on human health is unclear. 11But Andrews used negative language to describe the chemicals. "Everyone's really exposed to a toxic soup of these PFAS chemicals," he said. 12The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has known since at least 2001 about the problem of PFAS in drinking water. But the agency has yet to set a national legal limit. EPA officials said early last year they would begin the process of setting limits on two of the chemicals, PFOA and PFOS. 13The EPA said it has helped state governments deal with PFAS and that it is working to set limits on the two main chemicals. But the timing for such limits remains unclear. 14I'm John Russell. 15Timothy Gardner reported on this story for the Reuters news agency. John Russell adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 16________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18contaminate - v. to make (something) dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it - noun contamination 19negative - adj. bad or disagreeable; lacking good qualities 20toxic - adj. containing poisonous substances 21soup - n. a liquid food that often contains pieces of solid food 22We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.