A new study released this week shows that many toxic chemicals related to plastics have been found in rainwater and snow as far south as Antarctica. This chemicals are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment but stay around forever. These chemicals have non-stick or stain-repellent properties that make them useful in coatings for pans and fabrics. Over time, the guidelines for the safe amount of these chemicals in water has dropped as their chemical properties and toxicity has been more carefully studied.
This finding is important because many populations on earth use rainwater without treatment, which makes them more likely to be exposed to higher levels of these chemicals, unlike most of us in the United States and other developed countries where water treatment is done. It could also have implications for the environment and for agriculture, especially for its impacts on plants and livestock that are directly exposed to the rain. You can read more at Rainwater everywhere on Earth unsafe to drink due to ‘forever chemicals’, study finds | Euronews.
