PFAS- Modern day Frankenstein
Krishnendu Chatterjee
Vice President @ NATURE BIO FOODS | Agri Business & Sustainable Production Strategy
????? In 2017, DuPont and Chemours Co. paid $671 million to settle 3,550 personal injury claims over PFAS pollution..
????? In June 2023, 3M agreed to pay at least $10.3 billion and up to $12.5 billion to settle lawsuits for contamination of many U.S. public drinking water systems with PFAS used in many consumer products and firefighting foam.
????? Also in the same month, DuPont de Nemours Inc., The Chemours Co. and Corteva Inc. agreed to a $1.18 billion settlement fund to compensate water providers in various states for PFAS contamination.
One could realise from these above facts the magnanimous profits these business houses generate even after settling such huge claims year after year and putting lives in jeopardise. ?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of widely-used, man-made chemicals called “forever’ because they take an incredibly long time to ?break down, and they can accumulate in both the environment and the human body. Many studies have linked PFAS exposure to an increased risk of certain cancers. But there is surprisingly little research into the health effects of these chemicals, which have been around for more than 70 years.
?Everyday Items Often Made With or Containing PFAS
?Health Conditions Associated With PFAS
?Regulators across the globe still have not established a legal safe limit for exposure to PFAS. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in February 2019 that it was finally starting the process.
Forever chemicals since are manmade, onus should naturally be remaining on us to find a solution to combat the alarming health risks associated with wild spread uses of PFAS. Nature generally orients and reorients its actions to counter any threats and maybe we would eventually find some solutions in actions from microbiome, the life bearers at the realm.
Interesting topic! I'm curious to learn more about the challenges creators are facing and how we can empower them to thrive.