Ames Water 'Forever Chemicals'?

[RezClone]

DNR: Ames drinking water has ‘forever chemicals’ • Iowa Capital Dispatch

One well that is contaminated with PFAS is located in a firefighter training area. Firefighting foam is a known source of PFAS.

iowacapitaldispatch.com

 

[SECyclone]

I hear they are adding TDazzle

 

[cycloneworld]

I’m in the water/wastewater industry and this is everywhere. It’s not added to make the water “taste good”. It’s a bad chemical that was in nonstick pans and adhesives that seeped into our water supply and now it’s in everyone.

EPA is just starting to require treatment for it but it’s an issue everywhere. Studies have shown slight cancer increases after ingestion for decades. We don’t really know the full extent of the issue.

 

[cyIclSoneU]

I’m in the water/wastewater industry and this is everywhere. It’s not added to make the water “taste good”. It’s a bad chemical that was in nonstick pans and adhesives that seeped into our water supply and now it’s in everyone.

EPA is just starting to require treatment for it but it’s an issue everywhere. Studies have shown slight cancer increases after ingestion for decades. We don’t really know the full extent of the issue.

I understand it is total speculation at this point but the recent massive drop in fertility and sperm motility may one day be linked to this sort of stuff that is estimated to be inside of like 99% of people by now. Who knows what future generations will think of us being so cavalier about these chemicals.

 

[burn587]

I hear they are adding TDazzle

T dazzle is for chumps, gotta up your game to H2Flo son.

 

[nfrine]

I understand it is total speculation at this point but the recent massive drop in fertility and sperm motility may one day be linked to this sort of stuff that is estimated to be inside of like 99% of people by now.

Then I say we bottle Ames water and sell it in Eastern Iowa....

 

[StClone]

There might be some risk from the pan coating but the main risk is in production and manufacturing of non-stick PFAS from long ago, since they are forever, and current product including:

• Grease-resistant paper and other fast-food wrappers or containers.
• Microwave popcorn bags.
• Pizza boxes.
• Candy wrappers.
• Plastic water bottles.
• Nonstick cookware.
• Cleaning products.

And strongly in the now-banned Scotch Guard.

 

[mynameisjonas]

I assume the water filter on a fridge would block out the bad stuff?

 

[CloneIce]

Do yourself a favor and try not to learn too much about PFAS. It’s been the talk of the industry for awhile. It’s everywhere. Scary stuff. I think I’d rather not know about them.

 

[drmwevr08]

science

it's healthy

 

[throwittoblythe]

I understand it is total speculation at this point but the recent massive drop in fertility and sperm motility may one day be linked to this sort of stuff that is estimated to be inside of like 99% of people by now. Who knows what future generations will think of us being so cavalier about these chemicals.

Has there been research on a drop in fertility among Gen X and younger? I ask because my friends and I have speculated such for years. At least half of our group experienced trouble conceiving.

 

[AuH2O]

Has there been research on a drop in fertility among Gen X and younger? I ask because my friends and I have speculated such for years. At least half of our group experienced trouble conceiving.

Yes, for example, phthalates are an incredible hormone inhibitor and they are in tons of things. There is a lot of research on it. However unlike most advanced countries, our approach to chemicals is “go ahead and make it, use it and sell it, and if it can be proven to cause serious problems, then maybe we will do something about it.”

Redirect Notice

 

[throwittoblythe]

Yes, for example, phthalates are an incredible hormone inhibitor and they are in tons of things. There is a lot of research on it. However unlike most advanced countries, our approach to chemicals is “go ahead and make it, use it and sell it, and if it can be proven to cause serious problems, then maybe we will do something about it.”

Redirect Notice

Interesting to know there's some data to back that up. We've theorized for years that something was up. Way too may of us in our immediate circle of friends had issues conceiving; too many to be a coincidence.

 

[JSmoove]

This is also a big problem in the east metro of the Twin Cities in the Oakdale, Woodbury, Maplewood, Lake Elmo, Cottage Grove area from a 3M dumping of these chemicals. The neighorhood I just moved from I believe was affected by this.

Anecdotal evidence, my neighbor across the street who was the first one in the area to develop the land back in the 60's and 70's has lost a daughter and wife to cancer. His son got it but has survived (for now) and he himself has lived a pretty good life but recently has been diagnosed as well. Kind of makes you wonder. Later found out many neighbors installed pretty expensive water purifiaction systems. Very sobering to find that out and glad we have since left.

 

[AuH2O]

Interesting to know there's some data to back that up. We've theorized for years that something was up. Way too may of us in our immediate circle of friends had issues conceiving; too many to be a coincidence.

If you read the stuff by that researcher, Shanna Swan from Mt. Sinai, it is frightening but very thorough, interesting, and very infuriating. It's not quite "Children of Men," but it's pretty close.

It's a travesty that stuff like this and the mountains of people killed by pharmaceutical companies do not get nearly enough attention in the press and in politics.

 

[NorthCyd]

Yes, for example, phthalates are an incredible hormone inhibitor and they are in tons of things. There is a lot of research on it. However unlike most advanced countries, our approach to chemicals is “go ahead and make it, use it and sell it, and if it can be proven to cause serious problems, then maybe we will do something about it.”

Redirect Notice

Counterpoint. I think there are valid reasons for concern, but I have seen multiple articles from scientists that think she is a bit of an alarmist and question some of the assumptions she makes in her conclusions. I'm not saying she is wrong. I am far from an expert on the subject. Just saying there are detractors out there that are not fringe nut jobs.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/st...r-falling-human-sperm-count-may-be-overblown/

 

[StClone]

science

it's healthy

Science is not the problem. Technology is when not fully tested for the long term.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Science is not the problem. Technology is.

Humans. It's always humans that are the problem. We created the institutions and lack of responsibility/liability.

 

[cdnlngld]

science

it's healthy

Science does what science does. It makes discoveries and attempts to explain the world around us. Science doesn't knowingly market and sell those discoveries, that would be corporations.

 

[AuH2O]

Counterpoint. I think there are valid reasons for concern, but I have seen multiple articles from scientists that think she is a bit of an alarmist and question some of the assumptions she makes in her conclusions. I'm not saying she is wrong. I am far from an expert on the subject. Just saying there are detractors out there that are not fringe nut jobs.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/st...r-falling-human-sperm-count-may-be-overblown/

I think this is a fair assessment, and I was going to say she is on the apocalyptic end of the spectrum in this area. However, there is a ton of research that shows some of these chemicals clearly have some effect. She is jumping to the extreme of conclusions no doubt. And most of the detractors are correct, but only in saying that the extent of the effects she claims are still not certain. I don't think there is any dispute that some of these chemicals are disrupting the endocrine system, which of course has well-established impacts, one being fertility.

The unfortunate thing is I think this is what happens. There is basically consensus that these things have implications, we just don't fully understand what they all are, and the extent to which they **** us up. Instead of the approach being, "give us enough data to show the effects are not too serious before these chemicals are put into tons of consumer products," the approach is to carry on until we absolutely know with certainty that these things are terrible for us. Well, I think we already know this, but any uncertainty seems to provide cover to maintain the status quo. Or in the case of pharma companies, we know they're killing us, hiding data, settling what should be murder trials in civil suits and they just carry on with slaps on the wrist.