Formally identified as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of manmade chemicals known as PFAS are found in everything from soil and food to common household items and water. An overabundance of these compounds has been detected in U.S. drinking water and that of other industrialized nations, sparking discussion on control and mitigation among experts.
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to serious chronic health issues such as increased risk of certain cancers, fertility problems, and immune system challenges.
Unlike some industrial chemicals, PFAS don't break down and are difficult to destroy, thus earning the moniker "forever chemicals."
Able to resist water, grease, oil, and heat, PFAS compounds quickly became popular. More than half a century later, these forever chemicals have become a growing health and environmental concern.
"I believe this is a serious public health concern. From what I've seen in my work, chemical exposure -- even at low levels -- can affect communities long-term. And PFAS isn't something that just disappears," Previn Pillay, CEO of Pyromin Consulting, told The Epoch Times by email.
Pillay has dealt with complex water contamination issues including waste treatment and government compliance. He said forever chemicals can build up in people and the environment over time, causing a domino effect of negative consequences.
"Studies suggest that PFAS exposure can increase the risk of metabolic diseases, which is already becoming a growing issue in affected areas. I've seen how industrial contaminants, when not controlled, can cause health problems down the line. It's something we just can't ignore," Pillay said.
Probable links between consumption of forever chemicals and negative health outcomes have been studied for years and the results paint a grim picture.
McCowin is the service manager at McCowin Water, the business his father started.
"To manage PFAS better, collaboration between private sectors like ours and regulatory bodies is key," McCowin said.
"We've successfully steered complex water issues by prioritizing ethical practices and transparency with clients. This approach could inspire improved standards and accountability across the board."
Pillay also thinks cooperation is the fastest way to mitigate PFAS in American water.
"I think partnerships between private companies and government bodies can speed up solutions. Public-private partnerships would bring together the resources and expertise needed to drive faster water treatment innovations," he said.
"If we're going to manage this PFAS contamination better, we need both sectors working together, sharing knowledge, and accelerating the development of advanced filtration systems."
Although filtration has always been the go-to solution for removing PFAS in water, some researchers believe the scope of the contamination requires a new approach.
In their observations, researchers noted the bacteria attack the previously impenetrable carbon-fluorine bond in PFAS compounds. This is a critical step towards removing the "forever" part of the chemicals.
"This is the first discovery of a bacterium that can do reductive defluorination of PFAS structures," study author Yujie Men said.
The discovery builds on Liu's 2022 work that shows PFAS can be destroyed by treating contaminated water with short-wavelength ultraviolet light without creating toxic byproducts.
"We were looking at PFAS with different carbon chains, short chains, and we also looked at salty wastewater that has a high concentration of chloride and sulfate," Liu stated. "The results show that the salinity in wastewater acts as a catalyst when receiving the UV light to make this process even more effective and much faster."
These new treatment methods show promise, but experts say it's important to proceed with caution to avoid swapping one environmental problem for another.
"However, this approach does not consider the potential for human exposure throughout the life cycle of the remediation technology, in which spent media may need to be disposed of, regenerated, or destroyed over the many years the technology is likely to be in place."
Methods researchers identified as needing evaluation to prevent environmental release and safe disposal of contaminants include filtration techniques such as activated charcoal and chemical treatments.
Pillay and McCowin agree that a careful approach is needed when removing PFAS from water, especially when using newer ideas such as microbes.
"While this could revolutionize how we handle contamination, scaling this to treat municipal supplies will require significant research to ensure no adverse ecological impacts arise," McCowin said. "My experience with new technologies in water filtration highlights the need for rigorous testing before widespread deployment."
Pillay concurred and said using bacteria to tackle PFAS in water is interesting. He said he has seen "microbial solutions" work in other types of clean-up scenarios but scaling it up for public use presents a whole different challenge.
"For homeowners, using reverse osmosis filtration systems is one effective method to tackle PFAS contamination. These systems have been proven to reduce 'forever chemicals' significantly," McCowin said.
He also said maintaining and disposing of old filters responsibly is critical to avoid any secondary pollution.
Pillay also believes filtration is the best option for Americans who want to drink PFAS-free water at home, but recommends ones that use an activated carbon block.
"Here's the thing: These filters need regular replacement to stay effective. I've seen it too many times where systems fail simply because upkeep wasn't prioritized. For homeowners, staying on top of filter changes is crucial to reducing exposure. It's not a complete solution, but it's a good start," he said.
When asked about the safe disposal of PFAS-saturated filters, Pillay said it's a catch-22 situation. "This reminds me of something we face often in my industry, solving one problem sometimes creates another."
Pillay said burning the filters may create a different problem since PFAS are unique among hazardous waste. "I know from my experience with hazardous materials that incineration is often suggested, but with PFAS, burning it at high temperatures could lead to toxic byproducts in the air. So, we need to think carefully about how we handle the waste we're creating."
He added, "If we don't, we could end up trading water contamination for air pollution. It's a tough balance and one that requires a lot more thought before making any decisions."