Study shows dangers of ‘forever chemicals’ on babies

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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A new study has found that mothers in New Hampshire exposed to "forever chemicals" (PFAS) experienced a significant increase in infant deaths and other adverse birth outcomes
• It links contamination of drinking water with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to a 191% higher infant death rate, more premature births, and low-weight births

🔭 The context: PFAS are a class of toxic chemicals used in everyday products like nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing
• These chemicals have been found to contaminate drinking water and
• They are linked to several health problems, including cancer, liver damage, and birth defects

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The environmental impact of PFAS is far-reaching, with contamination affecting drinking water sources for millions of Americans
• The health costs linked to this pollution, including long-term effects on human health, further stress the importance of addressing environmental pollution comprehensively

⏭️ What’s next: As calls for stronger federal regulations grow, this study may catalyze the implementation of stricter standards for PFAS in drinking water and other environmental sectors
• Communities affected by PFAS contamination will likely push for further research and remediation efforts

💬 One quote: “The water utility customers are gonna bear the cost of cleaning PFAS up, but they’re also bearing the real cost of the health outcomes and the infant outcomes from drinking PFAS.” — Derek Lemoine, Co-author of the study

📈 One stat: The study suggests that PFAS exposure could cost Americans up to $7.8 billion annually in health and wage costs

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