PFAS: The Science of Dark Waters
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มี.ค. 2020
- This video was written by a research scientist in PFAS treatments.
PFAS’s are a group of chemicals that we have become increasingly more reliant on. They are in countless consumer products and are used excessively in firefighting drills in military and airport bases. They have unique properties that make them very useful and also very dangerous. Known as the “forever chemicals” they are ubiquitous in the environment and stick around for decades contaminating wildlife and humans. The manufacturers of this chemical have known about the toxic properties but have continued supplying it without correctly disposing of manufacturing waste.
In this video we discuss how the entire world's water supply is contaminated with PFAS pollutants, and how you can reduce your own PFAS exposure as well as your communities.
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Audio sources:
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Script references:
[1] Dark Waters - Film
[2] J. Liu and S. Mejia Avendaño, “Microbial degradation of polyfluoroalkyl chemicals in the environment: A review,” Environ. Int., vol. 61, pp. 98-114, 2013.
[3] pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/...
[4] www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/ma...
[5] J. Thompson et al., “Removal of PFOS, PFOA and other perfluoroalkyl acids at water reclamation plants in South East Queensland Australia,” Chemosphere, vol. 82, no. 1, pp. 9-17, 2011.
mare.html
[6]. L. Ahrens, “Polyfluoroalkyl compounds in the aquatic environment: A review of their occurrence and fate,” J. Environ. Monit., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 20-31, 2011.
[7] A. Jahnke, U. Berger, R. Ebinghaus, and C. Temme, “Latitudinal gradient of airborne polyfluorinated alkyl substances in the marine atmosphere between Germany and South Africa (53° N-33° S),” Environ. Sci. Technol., vol. 41, no. 9, pp. 3055-3061, 2007.
[8] pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es07...
[9] www.sciencedirect.com/science...
[10] Stockholm Convention, “Press Release - COP4 - Geneva, 8 May 2009,” Stockholm Convention, Stockholm, 2009.
[11] Stockholm Convention, “Call for information and follow-up to the decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention at its ninth meeting (Geneva, Switzerland from 29 April to 10 May 2019),” no. 1, pp. 1-15, 2019.
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Video Transcript -
If you haven’t heard about PFASs, you need to watch this video! What are these chemicals, do they really cause cancer and how did they become the subject of the recent Hollywood Blockbuster “Dark Waters”? [1] Here’s the crucial science you didn’t see in the film!
PFASs, or Perfluroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals originally used for coating tanks; but are now used in waterproof clothes, firefighting foams, teflon pans and even pizza boxes. PFASs consist of a carbon chain surrounded by several fluorine atoms joined to an acid group. The carbon-fluorine bond is incredibly strong, and causes the carbon chain to repel water and oil as well as shielding it from just about any biological, chemical or thermal attack (below 1,000 degrees C). These incredible chemical properties allowed PFASs to be used in thousands of different products but have also allowed them to become almost untreatable toxic pollutants. Keep watching to discover the history and future of these chemicals, as well 5 easy tips to fight PFAS pollution. Carbon-fluorine bonds are rarely found in nature and so no life or other natural pathways have evolved to break them down [2]. PFASs also bioaccumulate, meaning that once they get into living tissue, they remain there, building up progressively higher concentrations [3] which also increase along the food chain.
To make things worse, these compounds are unaffected by conventional water treatment systems [5] and as of 2016, at least 7 million Americans' water supplies are tainted with PFASs and scientists have actually found PFASs in water samples almost everywhere on earth [6], [7] as well as in soils, plants, animals and in 99% of humans. Technologies have been developed to remove PFASs from water and soil and are slowly being implemented. But the challenge remains as to what we do with these nearly indestructible chemicals once collected. This is something academics and industrial groups are still working on. But just how toxic are they?
PFASs cause increased risk of hormone imbalances, high cholesterol, reduced birth weights Testicular, Prostate, Pancreatic and Liver cancers, possible DNA damage [8],[9] and birth defects, to name a few. Many of these symptoms were discovered by two of the companies who made PFASs, DuPont and 3M, in their own workers. But almost none of this was ever disclosed to its customers, employees, the EPA or the communities it was poisoning. Despite the dangers, and having alternative disposal methods, for decades, DuPont released hundreds of tons of toxic PFAS into the Ohio River and contaminated the water supplies of over 100,000 people in West Virginia, making many of them extremely sick. This is in addition to the thousands of tonnes of PFASs in Teflon products which ended up in consumers' food and eventually landfills around the world. DuPont even developed a less toxic and less bioaccumulative alternative to use in its manufacture of Teflon … but decided against it as the profitability of the new chemical was unknown. By the early 2000’s, the average American had 5 times the amount of PFAS in their blood that DuPont considered safe for its factory’s drinking water [1], [4].
Thankfully, 3M ceased the manufacture of some PFASs in early 2000 with DuPont following suit much later 2013 [4]. A lawsuit headed by Rob Billot - the real life hero on which the movie Dark Waters is based - eventually proved DuPoint’s guilt over the illegal dumping of PFASs. As a result, they agreed to implement water filtration systems in the affected areas, which they failed to do. The lawsuit did however fund 7 years of scientific study into the health effects of PFASs, including the largest epidemiological study in human history with 71,000 affected civilians as participants. Researchers proved a link between one PFAS and increased risk of kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, pre-eclampsia and ulcerative colitis. DuPont disputed the findings but eventually settled for around $700M, however, DuPont makes over $1B a year from Teflon alone and has never admitted any guilt [1], [4].
In the last decade, two PFASs (PFOS and PFOA) were added to the Stockholm convention which strongly regulates organic pollutants. These two chemicals are now only permitted for use in small quantities where no alternatives exist, such as in scientific research [10], [11]. However, at least 5,000 new PFASs (REF Denmark report) have been developed which are much less regulated or medically understood. Some of these new PFASs are less harmful and less bioaccumulative, but they can be converted into more harmful products once they’re degraded in the environment [2]. Drinking water standards now limit PFASs to a few parts per trillion, thats equivalent to about one drop in several thousand Olympic swimming pools. But no one is really sure of a safe limit. Other than none.
The actions of Rob Billot go to show what a truly monumental difference one individual can make. That said, here’s 5 easy tips you can take to fight PFAS pollution. One, support action to regulate these chemicals in consumer products: by going to www.darkwatersfilm.co.uk/signup/ and signing the petition. Two, be informed about what’s in the products you buy, including in packaging and avoid PFASs wherever possible. Three, consider buying a ceramic or steel pan next time you need new cookware to reduce the amount of PFASs in your food. Four, petition for governments and water boards to measure the concentration of PFASs in household water supplies. Five, understand more about the history of PFAS pollution by watching the film Dark Waters and also read the New York Times article The-lawyer-who-became-dupont's-worst-nightmare” on which the film was based [4].
Bonus Tip: Share this video with friends and family to help them understand the dangers of PFASs and check out the free documentaries in the description.
If you liked this content, subscribe to our channel as well as our other social media! Give this video a thumbs up and comment any feedback for future videos. Look after yourselves, each other and most importantly, the planet around you.
Thanks again,
OurEden
References in video description
"PFAS" is the plural, also.
In total, DuPont lost less than 1 year worth of profit over all of this. This is the problem.
Repercussions for thee, but not for me!
I don't think there IS a safe limit for these chemicals in the environment
Very interesting video but please drop the background music and slow the dialogue down so we can hear it and get to grips with what you are saying because we want to know!
water/stain/oil and fire resistant materials/coatings incl synthetic clothing, rugs/carpets, non-stick cookware, food packaging ex pizza boxes, firefighting foams. 2:10 birth defect in child of dupont-teflon line worker. 4:56 watch dark waters by mark ruffalo. 5:00 use ceramic or steel pans without non-stick/teflon coatings.
Thank you for this informative video
Thanks so much Kevin! This means a lot! Would you be interested in further videos on PFAS, perhaps on methods of treatment?
The only way to watch Dark Waters is to buy it on TH-cam for $18.99 because it’s not on Netflix, Hulu or HBO. Make it rentable!
It should be on amazon prime
i watched it on prime video
It’s on Netflix now
Realised that tyvek breather membranes are made by Dupont recently and are very popular in construction. Do you recon these also uses PFASs?
Thanks for including some references, so many videos don't so it hard to find where they are getting their information
No problem, keep up the fight against PFAS :D
Gen X, the new PFAS which is a ticking time bomb.
Anything made with a fluorine molecule.
That includes water fluoridation.
I grew up next to a PFAS factory, and the soil is polluted up to 15km away from the site. Fml...
PFAS can travel long distance either by water or by emissions from chimneys. Sorry to hear your story, where was this?
@@OurEden I grew up in a place called "Zwijndrecht" in Belgium. The news about this PFAS scandal is just very recent. They say that Zwijndrecht has the highest concentrations of PFAS in the world.
Anyone know of a non tefal iron(for ironing clothes)? Trainers which are contain no Gortex? Who delivers Non PFAS pizza boxes?
Do W5 products contain PFA’s?
Hi Tom, is W5 the cleaning brand?
@@OurEden Hi yes, W5 cleaning products you can normally find in Lidl. Shown at 2:42 in this video.
@@tcheek21 would be good to know
The link to sign the petition is no longer working
Thanks for letting us know
Peace
finally epa made regulations for pfas in 2024
The ones who made these desicions at dupont should be in jail, and 3m even warned dupont on what not to do and how to safely dispose of the teflon p fizzles , but when 3M stopped making them dupont started production in full swing and dumped that shit wherever they could
Learn more about your own environment , so you not get fooled
80 + chemical plant fires explosions from August 2019. August 2020. Pick a country
Hi Tony, is this about the use of pfas in tackling chemical fires or their emissions?
@@OurEden seems it's cheaper to blow up than clean up ? Lancing. LANGAR. ERITH. Stanlow mossmoran Dundee. Pick a country + chemical plant fire explosion = c OVID followed ! Check out cyber attacks on chemical plants ?
If 90% have it...
Am I a 10%
Yes im fat
Sorry 😞 😞 sorry
Rainbow 🌈
Dupont is a great industry but, it always caused problems
What for humanity? The people they are poisoning? EVERYONE!?
My cholesterol is high and I am a vegan, go figure!
PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is already plural. Quit saying PFAS's. Makes you sound like you don't know what you are talking about.
Hi Steve. One of the researchers here at here has been studying PFAS for some years now. This is an issue we've encountered a lot. The choice of "PFASs" was actually based on a paper by Buck et al. setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ieam.258 so we thought we were actually doing the most informed thing. However, as we have continued to study the subject, it seems that few others have taken up this definition. So, we have now reverted back to the old usage of PFAS as both the plural and singular.
Are you a PFAS expert/researcher Steve?
@@OurEden Yes I am
@@sgrag002 How fucked are we Steve?