Julia Hoffmaster - PFAS Water Project Activity
Storyboard Text
- Actually, yes! Even though the bonds are difficult to break, Northwestern University scientists published a study where they successfully broke down PFOA and GenX molecules, some of the PFAS chemicals, to fluoride ions and other safe chemicals using lye, a chemical in soap, and dimethyl sulfoxide, a medication chemical.
- That sounds great! Has the technique been used in any communities yet?
- Unfortunately, no. The amount of PFOA molecules tested in the study were in much larger amounts than typically found in contaminated water, and PFOA and GenX are just some of the chemicals in the group of PFAS. But, the Northwestern scientists are hopeful in that the removal technique will work on smaller concentrations of the chemicals.
- But there must be something that people can do for helping out right now! There are probably tons of communities like ours being affected by this!
- Yes. NBC states that 2,000 U.S. communities had levels of PFAS in their water that were above the EPA's limits, back in June 2022.
- What we can do right now is just get our voices heard. Let people in power know that we need more research and more attention brought to the subject.
- You're right. Thanks for warning me about the water.
- No problem. And hey, you know a bit more about PFAS now.
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