Written by Caitlin Rissmiller
Between military bases and isolated bucolic towns, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, can be found within many of the United States’ water sources. However, low income communities and areas with higher numbers of people of color are disproportionately affected by PFAS. Governmental negligence has left most of the US to suffer the effects of PFAS in drinking water, but studies conducted in non-military base sites point to a commonality of dangerous levels of PFAS in marginalized communities.
A study of PFAS by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) found that in comparison to predominantly white and middle/upper income communities, marginalized communities are significantly more likely to be impacted by PFAS in their drinking water supplies. Northeastern University conducted a study which examined the geographic proximity (within 5 miles) of low income and predominantly POC communities to PFAS contaminated water sources. The reality of proximity of POC communities to PFAS contaminated sources was 22% higher than their expected levels. For low income communities, the proximity to contaminated water sources was 15% higher than their expected levels. An example of these communities is Flint, Michigan, where the water supply is acutely impacted by PFAS. Flint is home to a majority POC population where nearly 40% of the citizens live under the poverty line. The city’s water supply was formerly contaminated by lead which was located in the Flint River watershed. The local government made the switch from receiving water from the Detroit water supply to the Flint River in effort to save the city money, but ended up creating a state of emergency for Flint and severely harming the community. Years later, Michigan and most of the USA face a PFAS epidemic, and low income and predominantly POC communities such as Flint continue to face a contaminated water supply.
According to UCS, Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities are more likely to live in areas which are characterized by industrialization, urbanization, abandoned mines, landfills, and serious congestion. This likely leads to more PFAS contaminated water sources, which is only one problem in the litany of health challenges marginalized communities face. Marginalized communities who have faced redlining and neglect from their state governments oftentimes cannot sustain major projects like a PFAS cleanup and maintenance system, and are therefore subjected to unsafe water supplies. There is an overall lack of understanding of the seriousness of PFAS and the lifelong conditions that come with a PFAS contaminated water supply. Regardless of awareness or action from one’s local government, living in a certain zip code should not be the determining factor for a person’s health.
The Environmental Working Group's Tap Water database is a tool which provides information on the status of contaminants in local water sources. Investigate your town’s water quality and bring it to the attention of your local government!
References
Detroit Free Press. (December 2019). PFAS contamination is Michigan's biggest environmental crisis in 40 years. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://www.freep.com/in-depth/news/local/michigan/2019/04/25/pfas-contamination-michigan-crisis/3365301002/.
Great Lakes Now. (October 2021). Seven Years On: The Flint water crisis has yet to conclude. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/10/seven-years-flint-water-crisis/.
The PFAS Project Lab. (2016). Flint, Michigan. Retrieved April 9, 2022, from https://pfasproject.com/flint-michigan/.
Union of Concerned Scientists. (October 2019). Contamination Is an Equity Issue, and President Trump’s EPA Is Failing to Fix It. Retrieved April 9, 2022, from https://blog.ucsusa.org/genna-reed/pfas-contamination-is-an-equity-issue-president-trumps-epa-is-failing-to-fix-it/.
Ahmedabad (or Amdavad) is the www.peopleplaces.in marketable hub of Gujarat. But the city also assertions of being a center for educational tourism, a textile, hub, and a sightseer destination. Among the places to visit in Ahmedabad city are fabulous mosques, tranquil temples, and beautiful lakes. This city has a mix of historical allure and an up-to-date lifestyle.
The Newton-Dunearn region positions generally among the top private locale of Singapore. It borders Plantation Street and is inside the Center Focal Locale . This bequest involves chiefly of a combination of upmarket townhouses along the fundamental streets, pullman residences showflats with private landed lodging domains rambling behind them.
Die Hard football fans would surely want to start their own NFL memorabilia collection when they see what the NFL Sports shop has in store. For avid followers of the Complextime National Conference, there are many items to choose from to show undying loyalty for the Chicago Bears, the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants
A registered nurse is a nurse who has acquired a nursing degree, has handed the NCLEX-RN examination and has fulfilled all other state licensing necessities. gnm nursing vacancy While an pals diploma is the minimum education required to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination, a bachelor's degree or better is becoming greater generally desired among employers. For greater records approximately becoming a registered nurse, you can examine our registered nursing career manual.
Oregon courts charge a recording expense to document your Response with them. We know, it's pretty screwed up — small claims court portland oregon you get sued for an obligation and you need to pay an expense just to answer, regardless of whether you really owe it. If you had any desire to seem like a legal counselor you'd say, "that is inappropriate!" Yet pay you should.