Rainwater is quickly becoming unsafe to drink. Scientists and engineers have been searching for solutions as the “forever chemical” level continues to rise around the globe ,. Now, a new type of forever chemical treatment could help remove these toxins permanently.
More scientifically known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), forever chemicals are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals that are used in almost everything that we manufacture. They are likely to end up in water, soil, the air and our blood. They don’t last forever but the name was given because they have a long shelf life and are widely used.
Research has linked high levels of these chemicals to several health problems, including high blood pressure and reproductive issues, Freethink reports. These links have led scientists to look for ways to purge the forever chemicals from our water supply, and this new tech could offer a permanent treatment.
The treatment was designed by researchers at the University of British Columbia, and it utilizes a silica-based material that can absorb up to 99 percent of the forever chemicals found in water. The PFAS is then taken out of the silica-based material. This can be reused to eliminate even more toxins. This material has a great potential, as it can be used to completely remove the dangerous chemicals.
The UBC team plans to test the material’s ability to remove forever chemicals more widespread in the coming months. The team expects the tests to take around six months to complete. But if they are successful, they’ll provide a strong forever chemical treatment that is very much needed to keep these toxins from getting even more out of hand.
Combined with other treatment options, like a magnetic solution that removes PFAS chemicals, we could soon be on our way to tackling this seemingly impossible issue soon. A study on the new process is featured in the journal Chemosphere.
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