Forever chemicals from pharmaceuticals threaten water safety
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A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has uncovered a concerning issue in which PFAs or forever chemicals from pharmaceuticals are increasingly detected in wastewater. This is particularly alarming because during drought periods, this same wastewater can be processed and used as drinking water. The presence of these durable and harmful chemicals in potential drinking supplies poses significant health risks and highlights the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment processes, especially in times of water scarcity.
Source
B.J. Ruyle, E.H. Pennoyer, S. Vojta, J. Becanova, M. Islam, T.F. Webster, W. Heiger-Bernays, R. Lohmann, P. Westerhoff, C.E. Schaefer, E.M. Sunderland, High organofluorine concentrations in municipal wastewater affect downstream drinking water supplies for millions of Americans, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122 (3) e2417156122, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2417156122 (2025).
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