All Rainwater On Earth Has Been Deemed ‘Unsafe To Drink’

We have now reached a point where we can no longer turn our heads up to the sky on a rainy day and let drops of rain fall onto our tongues.

A study conducted by Stockholm University has now determined rainfall in almost all areas of the Earth—including Antarctica—to be unsafe for consumption. 

This is due to the presence of what are called perfluoroalkyl (PFOA) and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as “forever chemicals.”

Forever chemicals are synthetically-made chemicals that do not naturally occur in the environment. One of their other qualities is that they also cannot be broken down. Because of this, forever chemicals are poisoning rainfall and making it undrinkable.

The chemical has seeped into waterways and up into rain clouds from plastic waste that has been tossed into bodies of water.

The study, which was published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, claims that Earth is past the safe zone for plastic contamination.

A test was conducted on four different types of chemicals (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA) found in rainwater, soil, and bodies of water. Two levels of PFOS were found in rainwater, while drinking water often exceeded its safe limit with PFOA.

These chemicals are often carried into the atmosphere by sea spray, where they are then unfortunately included in the water cycle before reaching our very own drinking water supplies as well.

As expected, health risks follow the introduction of forever chemicals into our water. Problems such as slower child development, cardiovascular diseases, infertility issues, and cancer all come with ingesting these chemicals.

According to the study, when going against what the US deems as safe levels of PFOA and PFOS, a massive cleanup of plastics will have to be underway in order to achieve that.

Dr Jane Muncke, managing director for Food Packaging Forum in Zürich, Switzerland, says that she believes the industries producing an excruciating amount of plastic will need to take responsibility and bear the cost of plastic removal from water bodies.

[via EuroNews and Popular Mechanics, cover image via Niks Ads/Adobe Stock]