What Are PFAS, and Why Are They Dangerous?

Summary

The new infrastructure law contains $10 billion for cleaning up drinking water that has been contaminated by a specific group of man-made chemicals. But problems with “forever chemicals” go back decades, and are located in many places around the U.S. Miles O’Brien looks at the impact they’ve had in one community in New Hampshire, and how the U.S. Air Force is now dealing with its past use of them.

Discussion Questions

• What is “aqueous film forming foam” and what has it been used for?
• How are the perfluorinated chemicals(PFAS) in AFFFs (aqueous film forming foam) dangerous for the environment?
• Why are these chemicals considered “forever chemicals”?
• Who is likely to have exposure to these chemicals?
• What are some of the ways authorities and others are trying to clean up PFAS?

Focus Questions

How can you find out about how PFAS might be affecting your own community? If PFAS are present in the drinking water, what do you think can be done about it? (Consider actions that you or other residents can take, not just officials.)

Media Literacy

Did this piece clearly explain the science behind the dangers of PFAS? What else do you think you should know to better understand the impact of these chemicals?

Additional Resources

• To learn more about how the Environmental Protection Agency is addressing PFAS, read this article.
• What else can you do to address pollution in your own community? Check out this lesson for how you can help address plastic waste from the COVID epidemic, or this lesson that takes on plastic pollution across the globe.
• Read more about water pollution and environmental racism.

Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Extra.