Scientists Find High Levels of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Svalbard Ice Cap
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Loading... - Medina Daniel
- 27 Apr 2023
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A new study by a group of international researchers led by Oxford University has found high levels of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in a 12.3m ice core taken from the remote Lomonosovfonna ice cap on Svalbard. The researchers targeted 45 kinds of PFAS and were able to find and identify 26 of them in the high-elevation ice sample.
PFAS are synthetic compounds developed in the second half of the 20th century for use in water-resistant materials, including Teflon, and water-repellent clothing. By some measures 75 percent of water or stain-resistant clothing contain PFAS.
In more recent years scientists have studied their biotoxicity to humans and other mammals. Due to their long lifetime their effects are often cumulative. They are colloquially also referred to as “Forever Chemicals” as, once deposited in the environment, they persist for very long times.
Among the health impacts to humans and wildlife, scientists have identified increased rates of some cancers, reduced infant and fetal growth, infertility, and high cholesterol. Some jurisdictions have begun to develop future bans of PFOS. Read More…
