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Forever Chemical Discovery Can Aid Drinking Water Treatment
Context:
Scientists discovered a new chemical process to aid in the treatment of “forever chemicals” or Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water.
More on News:
- University of California, Riverside scientists discovered a chemical process that leverages high salt levels in wastewater to catalyze the breakdown of PFAS by targeting the strong fluorine-to-carbon bonds.
- This method is highly efficient due to the use of short-wavelength UV light, which is effective even in the presence of other chemicals in the wastewater.
- It destroys both long-chain and hard-to-remove short-chain PFAS that traditional methods can’t handle.
- The discovery is beneficial for municipal and private water providers using ion exchange technology.
- As this technology separates PFAS from water but generates brine waste.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” do not break down for hundreds or thousands of years.
- They are the most persistent synthetic chemicals, used in consumer products since the 1950s.
- Their strong carbon-fluoride bonds, among the strongest in organic chemistry, make PFAS highly resistant to degradation and very mobile in water.
- They can seep into rainwater, soil, sediment, and drinking water, posing significant risks.
- PFAS are also listed in the Stockholm Convention, highlighting the global recognition of the environmental and health risks posed by these chemicals.
- Health Impacts:
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- Exposure to PFAS is linked to liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues, and cancer.
- People can come into contact with PFAS through contaminated food, consumer products, and drinking water.
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- Economic and Environmental Costs:
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- Annual Cost to Society is estimated at $17.5 trillion.
- Pollution, including PFAS contamination, is ranked as the 10th most pressing threat by the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024.
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- Potential solutions:
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- PFAS can be broken down into less harmful substances using sodium hydroxide (lye), a cost-effective chemical widely used in soap manufacturing.
- The most prevalent approach for eliminating PFAS is high-temperature incineration.
- PFAS can be fully decomposed at approximately 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,730 degrees Fahrenheit), but this method is energy-intensive and necessitates specialised incinerators.
- Although effective treatment options exist, the lack of sufficient incineration facilities capable of processing PFAS poses a major challenge.
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Regulatory Actions:
- United States: The US Environmental Protection Agency has set a limit of four parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.
- European Commission (EC): EC committed to phase out all PFAS, allowing their use only if they are proven to be irreplaceable and essential to society.
- Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway submitted a proposal to European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to restrict use, import and production of PFAS substances.
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Stockholm Convention:
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