Scientists Discover New Method to Break Down "Forever Chemicals"

Facts

• After years of searching, a group of scientists at the University of California and Northwestern University has reportedly found a cheap and effective way of destroying PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also called "forever chemicals."
• The toxic chemicals are estimated to affect the drinking water of over 200M Americans, contaminate 98% of Americans' blood, and significant levels of PFAs have been detected in some food and the air. They don't naturally decompose, but rather cycle through and accumulate in the environment.
• Roughly 12K kinds of PFAS have been created since they were invented in the 1940s. They are widely used as oil and water repellents for common products.
• PFAs are difficult to break down because of their strong carbon-fluorine bonds. The new method - that sees contaminated water heated with low-cost reagents - reportedly results in no harmful byproducts.
• In June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published details on the safe levels of PFAS in drinking water, saying they're damaging to human health in concentrations between 0.004 parts per trillion to 0.02 parts per trillion.
• The new reaction developed by scientists is only effective for around a dozen PFAS, but there is hope the achievement will lead to more strategies to tackle the persistent chemicals.

Sources: New York Times, Guardian, Daily Mail, NBC, and Euro.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Science. This latest step could help decontaminate thousands of sites across the world. Scientists should be encouraged by these promising findings that could help protect public health in communities around the globe.
• Narrative B, as provided by Science Alert. While exciting, this new method will likely have very little impact in addressing the growing problem of PFA contamination: Forever chemicals are seemingly everywhere and we need a faster way to deal with this issue.