The Great Lakes Region Has Toxic Chemicals in the Air (and Water)
A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology found toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in the precipitation and air around the Great Lakes. Veuer’s Matt Hoffman reports.
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00:00 Some not-so-great news about the Great Lakes
00:03 A new study published in Environmental Science and Technology says that toxic forever chemicals
00:07 are in the precipitation and air around the lakes.
00:10 The chemicals in question are called PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
00:16 They're found in many industrially produced products,
00:18 and they're known to cause health problems partly because they tend to build up in the body.
00:22 According to The Hill, study first author Chunjie Xia said that PFAS levels in precipitation
00:27 were ubiquitous in the area around the lakes regardless of population density.
00:31 Xia added, "This is the first time we've seen that.
00:34 We've never seen that for other pollutants before."
00:36 But according to The Hill, study senior author Marta Vennier says the levels seen in precipitation
00:41 are not a concern for people.
00:43 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Great Lakes provide drinking water for over 40 million people.
00:48 Axios reported in February that the Chicago innovation hub Current had received a $160 million federal grant
00:55 to develop technology to remove PFAS from the lake's water.