A Curious Case of History Rewritten: Understanding the Sea As a Source of PFAS

By now, you must have heard about PFAS. If not, it refers to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a complex group of over 12,000 manmade chemicals. One thing that all chemicals in this group have in common is that they share a strong carbon-fluorine bond. 

PFAS are quickly becoming the hottest headlines across world newspapers. Since they are synthetic chemicals, we can at least assume that they’re not good news. What’s more shocking than their toxicity is the fact that therein exists almost an ecosystem that perpetuates the PFAS cycle. It all comes down to our great seas and oceans. 

Curious as to what we mean by this? This article will unravel how the chemicals that were a threat to the oceans are now being emitted into the environment through those very waters. Keep reading to understand a curious and distressing case of history rewritten. 

A Curious Case of History Rewritten: Understanding the Sea As a Source of PFAS  part 2

Unfolding the Threat of PFAS

Let’s start by discussing a bit about PFAS in general. The chemistry for these chemicals was discovered way back in the 1930s. However, it was not until the 1960s that PFAS were put to industrial use. Perhaps it took scientists time to completely understand the chemical nature and properties that may benefit mankind. 

What was found seemed nothing short of a breakthrough. PFAS were discovered to be so stable that they were resistant to grease, water, and oil. These features, when combined with low viscosity, made PFAS the ideal choice to develop Class B firefighting foam. 

Also known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam, AFFFs were employed in extinguishing liquid-fuel fires. Besides the foam for the firefighting industry, PFAS were used to manufacture non-stick cookware and stain-resistant garments. 

Their effective use continued for a few decades before red flags were identified. Whistleblowers began warning about the possible health and environmental risks of these chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed a few health risks involved with PFAS. These included decreased fertility rates, developmental defects, reduced immune response, and more. 

In 2017, firefighters who were regularly exposed to these chemicals alleged that they developed cancer as a result. According to TorHoerman Law, the three most common cases were those of kidney, testicle, and bladder cancer. 

A lawsuit was filed against PFAS manufacturers like 3M and DuPont. Besides personal injuries, US municipalities complained of water contamination due to the chemicals. So, the litigation was divided into two separate categories. As per the latest AFFF lawsuit update, water contamination cases have been settled and personal injury ones are expected to be soon. 

Attorneys are anticipating a global settlement by the end of 2024 or early 2025. Once that happens, individual case payouts can be determined. Besides the health and lives already destroyed, PFAS continue to pollute the environment because they’re yet to be completely banned. 3M has at least promised to stop producing them by the end of 2025. 

PFAS Deemed Ubiquitous

Dangerous to human health and the environment as they are, PFAS are also highly ubiquitous in nature. In other words, they can practically be found everywhere. Various kinds of studies have revealed the all-permeating properties of these chemicals. We believe such an aftereffect was scarcely suspected by the early scientists. 

Around half of US tap water has been contaminated by PFAS. Our great lakes and rivers are suffering from pollution. Even rainwater samples collected from across the world showed alarming traces of PFAS. 

Some recent studies this year showed that packaged foods, even those sold by organic food outlets, contained PFAS in them. Certain foods like red meats, processed butter, and coffee increase the levels of these chemicals in the body. They are truly inescapable should one desire to flee to the remotest parts of the world. 

It can be safely assumed that every human being currently alive is carrying within their bodies some traces of PFAS (including newborns). Another latest shocking study discovered how PFAS interact with the human skin. Shorter chains of these chemicals were easily absorbed into the skin when compared to longer chains that stayed long enough to affect other body parts. It appears that the modern world is accumulating more PFAS than the environment or the human body is capable of eliminating. No wonder PFAS are called the ‘forever chemicals.’

The Neverending Saga

Now and then since the past two years, in particular, researchers across the world claim to have found the solution for PFAS pollution. We will leave that discussion to the following section. Amid such promising hopes, even more concerning data emerges. 

For instance – scientists just found out that ocean sprays could re-release PFAS into the environment. Earlier, it was thought that PFAS bio-accumulate in the soil but not so in the oceans. The opposite is true and the chemicals trapped in the water bodies are released into the land and air when waves crash against the shore. 

The study went as far as stating that PFAS emitted through ocean sprays are more responsible for contamination than industrial polluters. Those residing in coastal areas are in a direct line of threat. Even vegetation grown along coastlines consists of greater levels of PFAS. 

It cannot be anything but humbling to know that these chemicals never just disappear. They cycle back to land and air in a hauntingly perfect circle. What goes around must also come around, right? 

Possible Ways of Elimination

The Pentagon and EPA are struggling to clean thousands of acres of land getting buried under PFAS pollution. On one hand, budget is the issue. On the other, it is ambiguous whether anybody even knows how to thoroughly get rid of PFAS. 

In a most recent discovery, scientists discovered a specific species of microbes capable of performing reductive defluorination of PFAS. The bacterium may work best on unsaturated PFAS compounds that share a double carbon-to-carbon bond. At least such a discovery can open doors to finding similar solutions for other PFAS. 

It’s almost as if Divine providence had foreseen the struggles and hidden the solution in nature itself. It’s still too early to say anything with unflinching confidence. Since most large-scale PFAS elimination methods are still in their nascent stages, only time will be the best judge. 

 

When all is said and done, the current generation can be certain of being unable to return to a life without PFAS. Despite complete permanent bans coming up, it’s highly unlikely that existing PFAS will be eliminated anytime soon. 

Given what scientists have discovered about the oceans and seas, it’s a case of history just repeating itself. When will this vicious cycle break? One can only hope with trembling that it may happen at least in the next few decades.