Exposure to large amounts of PFAS compounds can increase the risk of cancer and fertility problems, for example. The use of compounds must be limited quickly, the researchers insist.
Rainwater in most parts of the world contains too many chemicals, recent research results show, says The British Broadcasting Company BBC (you will switch to another service). The Stockholm University study investigated per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds, also known by the abbreviation PFAS.
According to the study, the amount of one PFAS compound in rainwater often exceeds the US advisory drinking water guidelines all over the world.
There are approximately 4,500 PFAS compounds, and they can be found in almost every home on Earth in hundreds of everyday products, such as food packaging, non-stick frying pans, rainwear, paints and adhesives. They are also often used in extinguishing foams.
They are also called eternal chemicals, because they remain in the environment for a long time.
The most significant of the PFAS compounds is the PFOS compound, i.e. perfluoro-octane sulfonate. Its use was restricted in the early 2000s and it was replaced by other PFAS compounds. However, they are not as safe as was believed at the time.
According to researchers, there is no place on earth where PFAS compounds can be avoided.
– We claim that we no longer live in a safe environment, because now these chemicals are everywhere, and we can no longer reach safety limits, comments the professor who led the research Ian Cousins From the University of Stockholm to the BBC.
– It is vital that the use of these substances is quickly limited, say the researchers from the University of Stockholm interviewed by the BBC.
Researchers claim that exposure to large amounts of PFAS compounds can increase the risk of cancer and fertility problems, for example.
Many of the safety limits are advisory.