- cross-posted to:
- globalnews
- cross-posted to:
- globalnews
Australian limits on acceptable levels of these toxic chemicals in drinking water ‘orders of magnitude’ higher than in US
High levels of so-called forever chemicals have been found in surface and groundwater all over the world, with Australia one of several hotspots for toxic PFAS, a University of New South Wales study has found.
Researchers examined groundwater samples from around the world and found 69% had per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at levels above Canada’s safe drinking water criteria and 32% had levels higher than the US proposed drinking water hazard index.
They found Australia was one of several “hotspots” relative to the rest of the world, along with China, Europe and North America.
More than 14,000 human-made chemicals are PFAS, including PFHxS, PFOS and PFOA. They have been used in firefighting foams, insecticides, food packaging, non-stick frypans, clothing and cosmetics. They were created for their high heat tolerance, and water and oil repellent properties.
I heard a CEO of one of those media companies being interviewed under oath by an investigation body about how they had effectively captured their regulator, with people from their companies running the regulation body. I can’t say more than that without breaching an NDA, but I think what I’ve said is broad enough to not be identifiable.
They basically put it to him that his company and their competition had colluded to control their own regulation so they could get away with charging whatever they wanted, and that that practice was so entrenched that it was just how they did business at this point.
His answer, which stunned the lawyers present and which I cannot forget after all these years: “Isn’t that how everybody does business?”
So I don’t mind that I can’t name & shame because I don’t think it would matter.