PFASs, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” got their name because of their extraordinary resistance to most degradation mechanisms, possibly because they contain carbon and fluorine bonds, two of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. Considered extremely dangerous to humans, PFASs are found in most everyday products such as pans, cleaning products and even makeup. And people’s increased reliance on PFAS has led to nearly every drop of water being contaminated with it, making even rainwater unsafe to drink. For years, scientists have been trying to find better ways to eliminate them that don’t involve exposure to high levels of energy, including temperatures over 1,000 degrees Celsius. But new research from US-based Northwestern University and the University of California LA, published on Thursday, found that PFAS can be eliminated by mixing them with two relatively safe and inexpensive chemicals. People are easily exposed to “forever chemicals” through food, drinking water and household dust, with research showing they can cause liver, kidney and immune system problems, as well as some cancers. For reasons like these, the paper’s researchers say finding easier solutions to remove PFAS from water has become “especially urgent.” Published in the journal Science, the study found that when PFASs were mixed with a solution of dimethyl sulfoxide and sodium hydroxide and heated to a maximum of 120 degrees Celsius, it led to a chemical reaction that “gradually removed the molecule” until the PFAS chemicals were gone. UCLA-based co-corresponding author Kendall Houk said in a release. There’s no limit to the amount of water that can be treated at once with the simple technology because it uses relatively low temperatures without causing dangerous byproducts, according to Houk. In the future, the technology may make it easier for water treatment facilities to remove PFAS from drinking water, the study’s researchers said. PFAS can now be found all over the planet, with researchers outside of Europe concluding that they could find the chemicals even in raindrops in the most remote areas of the world. In June, the US-based Environmental Protection Agency revised the acceptable levels of PFAS concentration in drinking water for agencies and businesses in a health advisory to “reduce exposure” for citizens.
