home.social

#sewagetreatment — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #sewagetreatment, aggregated by home.social.

  1. EPA moves to designate microplastics and pharmaceuticals as contaminants in drinking water

    But, as #MAHA folks noted: "Maha leaders, farmers and organizations told Zeldin in a letter on Tuesday to tackle the health impacts of pesticides, plastics and Pfas chemicals."

    Still, 2 out of 4 is a start (I hope)

    theguardian.com/environment/20

    #WaterQuality #Pollution #SewageTreatment #PlasticPollution

  2. Thousands of US #hazardous sites are at risk of #flooding because of #SeaLevelRise, study finds

    By DORANY PINEDA, November 20, 2025

    Excerpt: "The study’s researchers started by identifying and classifying tens of thousands of hazardous sites near the coasts of Puerto Rico and the 23 states with coastline. Next, they wanted to know each site’s projected future flood risk. They did this by calculating how likely each year coastal flooding could inundate a site using historical sea level measurements and projected sea level rise in 2050 and 2100 under low and high emissions scenarios. Lastly, they identified and classified communities as being at-risk if homes are located within 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) of a hazardous site with a high threat of future flooding, and compared those communities’ characteristics with other Fcoastal neighborhoods with no at-risk sites nearby.

    "But researchers did not include all types of hazardous facilities, such as oil and gas #pipelines, nor did they account for #GroundwaterUpwelling or more intense and frequent storms in the future, which could lead to underestimates. On the other end, the flood-risk model they used could have overestimated the number of threatened sites.

    " 'It is important to note that previous disasters, such as #hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Harvey, did result in a lot of #ToxicContamination from oil and gas pipelines,' Chandler said.

    "The 5,500 at-risk sites includes 44% that are #FossilFuel ports and terminals, 30% power plants, 24% #refineries and 22% coastal #SewageTreatment facilities. Most of the sites — nearly 80% — are in #Louisiana, #Florida, #NewJersey, #Texas, #California, #NewYork and #Massachusetts."

    orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/20

    #BigOilAndGas #OilPipelines #GasPipelines #Infrastructure #HazardousWaste #Contamination #WaterIsLife #NuclearWaste #Flooding #ClimateChange #Pollution

  3. Thousands of US #hazardous sites are at risk of #flooding because of #SeaLevelRise, study finds

    By DORANY PINEDA, November 20, 2025

    Excerpt: "The study’s researchers started by identifying and classifying tens of thousands of hazardous sites near the coasts of Puerto Rico and the 23 states with coastline. Next, they wanted to know each site’s projected future flood risk. They did this by calculating how likely each year coastal flooding could inundate a site using historical sea level measurements and projected sea level rise in 2050 and 2100 under low and high emissions scenarios. Lastly, they identified and classified communities as being at-risk if homes are located within 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) of a hazardous site with a high threat of future flooding, and compared those communities’ characteristics with other Fcoastal neighborhoods with no at-risk sites nearby.

    "But researchers did not include all types of hazardous facilities, such as oil and gas #pipelines, nor did they account for #GroundwaterUpwelling or more intense and frequent storms in the future, which could lead to underestimates. On the other end, the flood-risk model they used could have overestimated the number of threatened sites.

    " 'It is important to note that previous disasters, such as #hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Harvey, did result in a lot of #ToxicContamination from oil and gas pipelines,' Chandler said.

    "The 5,500 at-risk sites includes 44% that are #FossilFuel ports and terminals, 30% power plants, 24% #refineries and 22% coastal #SewageTreatment facilities. Most of the sites — nearly 80% — are in #Louisiana, #Florida, #NewJersey, #Texas, #California, #NewYork and #Massachusetts."

    orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/20

    #BigOilAndGas #OilPipelines #GasPipelines #Infrastructure #HazardousWaste #Contamination #WaterIsLife #NuclearWaste #Flooding #ClimateChange #Pollution

  4. Thousands of US #hazardous sites are at risk of #flooding because of #SeaLevelRise, study finds

    By DORANY PINEDA, November 20, 2025

    Excerpt: "The study’s researchers started by identifying and classifying tens of thousands of hazardous sites near the coasts of Puerto Rico and the 23 states with coastline. Next, they wanted to know each site’s projected future flood risk. They did this by calculating how likely each year coastal flooding could inundate a site using historical sea level measurements and projected sea level rise in 2050 and 2100 under low and high emissions scenarios. Lastly, they identified and classified communities as being at-risk if homes are located within 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) of a hazardous site with a high threat of future flooding, and compared those communities’ characteristics with other Fcoastal neighborhoods with no at-risk sites nearby.

    "But researchers did not include all types of hazardous facilities, such as oil and gas #pipelines, nor did they account for #GroundwaterUpwelling or more intense and frequent storms in the future, which could lead to underestimates. On the other end, the flood-risk model they used could have overestimated the number of threatened sites.

    " 'It is important to note that previous disasters, such as #hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Harvey, did result in a lot of #ToxicContamination from oil and gas pipelines,' Chandler said.

    "The 5,500 at-risk sites includes 44% that are #FossilFuel ports and terminals, 30% power plants, 24% #refineries and 22% coastal #SewageTreatment facilities. Most of the sites — nearly 80% — are in #Louisiana, #Florida, #NewJersey, #Texas, #California, #NewYork and #Massachusetts."

    orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/20

    #BigOilAndGas #OilPipelines #GasPipelines #Infrastructure #HazardousWaste #Contamination #WaterIsLife #NuclearWaste #Flooding #ClimateChange #Pollution

  5. Thousands of US #hazardous sites are at risk of #flooding because of #SeaLevelRise, study finds

    By DORANY PINEDA, November 20, 2025

    Excerpt: "The study’s researchers started by identifying and classifying tens of thousands of hazardous sites near the coasts of Puerto Rico and the 23 states with coastline. Next, they wanted to know each site’s projected future flood risk. They did this by calculating how likely each year coastal flooding could inundate a site using historical sea level measurements and projected sea level rise in 2050 and 2100 under low and high emissions scenarios. Lastly, they identified and classified communities as being at-risk if homes are located within 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) of a hazardous site with a high threat of future flooding, and compared those communities’ characteristics with other Fcoastal neighborhoods with no at-risk sites nearby.

    "But researchers did not include all types of hazardous facilities, such as oil and gas #pipelines, nor did they account for #GroundwaterUpwelling or more intense and frequent storms in the future, which could lead to underestimates. On the other end, the flood-risk model they used could have overestimated the number of threatened sites.

    " 'It is important to note that previous disasters, such as #hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Harvey, did result in a lot of #ToxicContamination from oil and gas pipelines,' Chandler said.

    "The 5,500 at-risk sites includes 44% that are #FossilFuel ports and terminals, 30% power plants, 24% #refineries and 22% coastal #SewageTreatment facilities. Most of the sites — nearly 80% — are in #Louisiana, #Florida, #NewJersey, #Texas, #California, #NewYork and #Massachusetts."

    orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/20

    #BigOilAndGas #OilPipelines #GasPipelines #Infrastructure #HazardousWaste #Contamination #WaterIsLife #NuclearWaste #Flooding #ClimateChange #Pollution

  6. Thousands of US #hazardous sites are at risk of #flooding because of #SeaLevelRise, study finds

    By DORANY PINEDA, November 20, 2025

    Excerpt: "The study’s researchers started by identifying and classifying tens of thousands of hazardous sites near the coasts of Puerto Rico and the 23 states with coastline. Next, they wanted to know each site’s projected future flood risk. They did this by calculating how likely each year coastal flooding could inundate a site using historical sea level measurements and projected sea level rise in 2050 and 2100 under low and high emissions scenarios. Lastly, they identified and classified communities as being at-risk if homes are located within 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) of a hazardous site with a high threat of future flooding, and compared those communities’ characteristics with other Fcoastal neighborhoods with no at-risk sites nearby.

    "But researchers did not include all types of hazardous facilities, such as oil and gas #pipelines, nor did they account for #GroundwaterUpwelling or more intense and frequent storms in the future, which could lead to underestimates. On the other end, the flood-risk model they used could have overestimated the number of threatened sites.

    " 'It is important to note that previous disasters, such as #hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Harvey, did result in a lot of #ToxicContamination from oil and gas pipelines,' Chandler said.

    "The 5,500 at-risk sites includes 44% that are #FossilFuel ports and terminals, 30% power plants, 24% #refineries and 22% coastal #SewageTreatment facilities. Most of the sites — nearly 80% — are in #Louisiana, #Florida, #NewJersey, #Texas, #California, #NewYork and #Massachusetts."

    orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/20

    #BigOilAndGas #OilPipelines #GasPipelines #Infrastructure #HazardousWaste #Contamination #WaterIsLife #NuclearWaste #Flooding #ClimateChange #Pollution

  7. Scientists Are Warning of A Brand-New Kind of #AcidRain

    Story by Darren Orf

    Key points:
    - While acid rain caused by sulfur dioxide is an environmental threat of the past (at least, for now), a new kind of acid is proliferating in rain water—as well as groundwater, ice cores, and even human blood.
    - #TrifluoroaceticAcid (#TFA) is a subclass of “#ForeverChemical” that’s been steadily increasing in concentrations around the world.
    - With calls to consider this rise in TFA a planetary threat, some governments are starting ban chemicals linked to TFA—but the threat will require global cooperation.

    "Acid rain may have a sequel, and like most sequels, it’s arguably worse.

    "While the world’s first bout of acid rain (at least, in modern times) came from increased concentrations of sulfuric acid produced largely from coal plants, this new #anthropogenic source is possibly more pervasive, more persistent, and more sinister. Its name is Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a kind of 'forever chemical' that, for decades, has been steadily increasing in #RainWater—but not just rain water.

    "Countries around the world have found increasing concentrations in #groundwater, #ArcticIceCores, #wine, and even #HumanBlood. In fact, TFA is likely the most pervasive form of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (#PFAS)—technically, a subclass known as ultrashort-chain perfluoroalkyl acid (#PFAA)—on Earth due in part to the fact that longer-chain PFAS degrade into TFA via #incinerators or #SewageTreatment plants. They’re also used in #refrigerants instead of #chlorofluorocarbons and #hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which were famously known to deplete the Earth’s #OzoneLayer.

    "In October of 2024, a team of European environmental scientists raised the TFA alarm, stating that a rise in concentration could be considered a threat to '#PlanetaryBoundaries' — a system designed to make sure the planet remains #habitable for human life (which we are doing a real bang-up job at following).

    " 'Since the 1990s, it has been suggested that hazard-related concerns of TFA and other short-chain PFAAs are much lower than those of PFAAs with longer perfluoroalkyl chains, which are more #bioaccumulative and generally more #toxic,' the authors wrote back in October. 'However, these early reports did not consider TFA’s ubiquitous accumulation in the environment, in particular its observed accumulation in water resources and #bioaccumulation in various plants, including crops.'

    "One of the most dangerous things about PFAAs is what we don’t know about them. Unlike other PFAS (of which there are, sadly, thousands of different kinds), TFA is so small (a.k.a. ultrashort) that it’s water-soluble, meaning it likely passes through the human body pretty quickly. A new Nature article reports that some scientists find this evidence compelling enough to not even consider TFA a kind of PFAS, but a growing chorus of voices are raising concerns that increased concentrations of TFA in water and food sources could render TFA’s fast-moving nature a moot point.

    "In fact, TFA’s water-solubility could be a long-term headache. If scientists and governments eventually decide that TFA does need to be removed from drinking water and other sources, current filtration technologies are not up to the task. In other words, ridding the world of TFA will not only be immensely difficult, it’ll also be incredibly expensive. Current regulations to eliminate certain forms of PFAS are already proving to be fiscally onerous.

    "Thankfully, some governments are taking action. #Denmark, for example, banned 23 substances earlier this month known to contain PFAS that contribute to rising TFA concentrations. Meanwhile, the #US is lagging behind—the Environmental Protection Agency [#EPA] doesn’t even define TFA as a 'forever chemical,' much to the dismay of #environmentalist groups and to the merriment of many #industry leaders.

    "Rising concentrations of TFA is the acid rain sequel no one wanted. But just like every terrible sequel ever made, it seems like we’re getting it anyway."

    msn.com/en-us/travel/news/scie

    #WaterIsLife #Dupont #DowChemical #3M #ForeverChemicals #EPACuts #Deregulation #TrumpSucks #USPol #WorldPol #Environment #EnvironmentalDamage #GenXChemicals #3MLied

  8. Scientists Are Warning of A Brand-New Kind of #AcidRain

    Story by Darren Orf

    Key points:
    - While acid rain caused by sulfur dioxide is an environmental threat of the past (at least, for now), a new kind of acid is proliferating in rain water—as well as groundwater, ice cores, and even human blood.
    - #TrifluoroaceticAcid (#TFA) is a subclass of “#ForeverChemical” that’s been steadily increasing in concentrations around the world.
    - With calls to consider this rise in TFA a planetary threat, some governments are starting ban chemicals linked to TFA—but the threat will require global cooperation.

    "Acid rain may have a sequel, and like most sequels, it’s arguably worse.

    "While the world’s first bout of acid rain (at least, in modern times) came from increased concentrations of sulfuric acid produced largely from coal plants, this new #anthropogenic source is possibly more pervasive, more persistent, and more sinister. Its name is Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a kind of 'forever chemical' that, for decades, has been steadily increasing in #RainWater—but not just rain water.

    "Countries around the world have found increasing concentrations in #groundwater, #ArcticIceCores, #wine, and even #HumanBlood. In fact, TFA is likely the most pervasive form of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (#PFAS)—technically, a subclass known as ultrashort-chain perfluoroalkyl acid (#PFAA)—on Earth due in part to the fact that longer-chain PFAS degrade into TFA via #incinerators or #SewageTreatment plants. They’re also used in #refrigerants instead of #chlorofluorocarbons and #hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which were famously known to deplete the Earth’s #OzoneLayer.

    "In October of 2024, a team of European environmental scientists raised the TFA alarm, stating that a rise in concentration could be considered a threat to '#PlanetaryBoundaries' — a system designed to make sure the planet remains #habitable for human life (which we are doing a real bang-up job at following).

    " 'Since the 1990s, it has been suggested that hazard-related concerns of TFA and other short-chain PFAAs are much lower than those of PFAAs with longer perfluoroalkyl chains, which are more #bioaccumulative and generally more #toxic,' the authors wrote back in October. 'However, these early reports did not consider TFA’s ubiquitous accumulation in the environment, in particular its observed accumulation in water resources and #bioaccumulation in various plants, including crops.'

    "One of the most dangerous things about PFAAs is what we don’t know about them. Unlike other PFAS (of which there are, sadly, thousands of different kinds), TFA is so small (a.k.a. ultrashort) that it’s water-soluble, meaning it likely passes through the human body pretty quickly. A new Nature article reports that some scientists find this evidence compelling enough to not even consider TFA a kind of PFAS, but a growing chorus of voices are raising concerns that increased concentrations of TFA in water and food sources could render TFA’s fast-moving nature a moot point.

    "In fact, TFA’s water-solubility could be a long-term headache. If scientists and governments eventually decide that TFA does need to be removed from drinking water and other sources, current filtration technologies are not up to the task. In other words, ridding the world of TFA will not only be immensely difficult, it’ll also be incredibly expensive. Current regulations to eliminate certain forms of PFAS are already proving to be fiscally onerous.

    "Thankfully, some governments are taking action. #Denmark, for example, banned 23 substances earlier this month known to contain PFAS that contribute to rising TFA concentrations. Meanwhile, the #US is lagging behind—the Environmental Protection Agency [#EPA] doesn’t even define TFA as a 'forever chemical,' much to the dismay of #environmentalist groups and to the merriment of many #industry leaders.

    "Rising concentrations of TFA is the acid rain sequel no one wanted. But just like every terrible sequel ever made, it seems like we’re getting it anyway."

    msn.com/en-us/travel/news/scie

    #WaterIsLife #Dupont #DowChemical #3M #ForeverChemicals #EPACuts #Deregulation #TrumpSucks #USPol #WorldPol #Environment #EnvironmentalDamage #GenXChemicals #3MLied

  9. Scientists Are Warning of A Brand-New Kind of #AcidRain

    Story by Darren Orf

    Key points:
    - While acid rain caused by sulfur dioxide is an environmental threat of the past (at least, for now), a new kind of acid is proliferating in rain water—as well as groundwater, ice cores, and even human blood.
    - #TrifluoroaceticAcid (#TFA) is a subclass of “#ForeverChemical” that’s been steadily increasing in concentrations around the world.
    - With calls to consider this rise in TFA a planetary threat, some governments are starting ban chemicals linked to TFA—but the threat will require global cooperation.

    "Acid rain may have a sequel, and like most sequels, it’s arguably worse.

    "While the world’s first bout of acid rain (at least, in modern times) came from increased concentrations of sulfuric acid produced largely from coal plants, this new #anthropogenic source is possibly more pervasive, more persistent, and more sinister. Its name is Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a kind of 'forever chemical' that, for decades, has been steadily increasing in #RainWater—but not just rain water.

    "Countries around the world have found increasing concentrations in #groundwater, #ArcticIceCores, #wine, and even #HumanBlood. In fact, TFA is likely the most pervasive form of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (#PFAS)—technically, a subclass known as ultrashort-chain perfluoroalkyl acid (#PFAA)—on Earth due in part to the fact that longer-chain PFAS degrade into TFA via #incinerators or #SewageTreatment plants. They’re also used in #refrigerants instead of #chlorofluorocarbons and #hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which were famously known to deplete the Earth’s #OzoneLayer.

    "In October of 2024, a team of European environmental scientists raised the TFA alarm, stating that a rise in concentration could be considered a threat to '#PlanetaryBoundaries' — a system designed to make sure the planet remains #habitable for human life (which we are doing a real bang-up job at following).

    " 'Since the 1990s, it has been suggested that hazard-related concerns of TFA and other short-chain PFAAs are much lower than those of PFAAs with longer perfluoroalkyl chains, which are more #bioaccumulative and generally more #toxic,' the authors wrote back in October. 'However, these early reports did not consider TFA’s ubiquitous accumulation in the environment, in particular its observed accumulation in water resources and #bioaccumulation in various plants, including crops.'

    "One of the most dangerous things about PFAAs is what we don’t know about them. Unlike other PFAS (of which there are, sadly, thousands of different kinds), TFA is so small (a.k.a. ultrashort) that it’s water-soluble, meaning it likely passes through the human body pretty quickly. A new Nature article reports that some scientists find this evidence compelling enough to not even consider TFA a kind of PFAS, but a growing chorus of voices are raising concerns that increased concentrations of TFA in water and food sources could render TFA’s fast-moving nature a moot point.

    "In fact, TFA’s water-solubility could be a long-term headache. If scientists and governments eventually decide that TFA does need to be removed from drinking water and other sources, current filtration technologies are not up to the task. In other words, ridding the world of TFA will not only be immensely difficult, it’ll also be incredibly expensive. Current regulations to eliminate certain forms of PFAS are already proving to be fiscally onerous.

    "Thankfully, some governments are taking action. #Denmark, for example, banned 23 substances earlier this month known to contain PFAS that contribute to rising TFA concentrations. Meanwhile, the #US is lagging behind—the Environmental Protection Agency [#EPA] doesn’t even define TFA as a 'forever chemical,' much to the dismay of #environmentalist groups and to the merriment of many #industry leaders.

    "Rising concentrations of TFA is the acid rain sequel no one wanted. But just like every terrible sequel ever made, it seems like we’re getting it anyway."

    msn.com/en-us/travel/news/scie

    #WaterIsLife #Dupont #DowChemical #3M #ForeverChemicals #EPACuts #Deregulation #TrumpSucks #USPol #WorldPol #Environment #EnvironmentalDamage #GenXChemicals #3MLied

  10. Scientists Are Warning of A Brand-New Kind of #AcidRain

    Story by Darren Orf

    Key points:
    - While acid rain caused by sulfur dioxide is an environmental threat of the past (at least, for now), a new kind of acid is proliferating in rain water—as well as groundwater, ice cores, and even human blood.
    - #TrifluoroaceticAcid (#TFA) is a subclass of “#ForeverChemical” that’s been steadily increasing in concentrations around the world.
    - With calls to consider this rise in TFA a planetary threat, some governments are starting ban chemicals linked to TFA—but the threat will require global cooperation.

    "Acid rain may have a sequel, and like most sequels, it’s arguably worse.

    "While the world’s first bout of acid rain (at least, in modern times) came from increased concentrations of sulfuric acid produced largely from coal plants, this new #anthropogenic source is possibly more pervasive, more persistent, and more sinister. Its name is Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a kind of 'forever chemical' that, for decades, has been steadily increasing in #RainWater—but not just rain water.

    "Countries around the world have found increasing concentrations in #groundwater, #ArcticIceCores, #wine, and even #HumanBlood. In fact, TFA is likely the most pervasive form of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (#PFAS)—technically, a subclass known as ultrashort-chain perfluoroalkyl acid (#PFAA)—on Earth due in part to the fact that longer-chain PFAS degrade into TFA via #incinerators or #SewageTreatment plants. They’re also used in #refrigerants instead of #chlorofluorocarbons and #hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which were famously known to deplete the Earth’s #OzoneLayer.

    "In October of 2024, a team of European environmental scientists raised the TFA alarm, stating that a rise in concentration could be considered a threat to '#PlanetaryBoundaries' — a system designed to make sure the planet remains #habitable for human life (which we are doing a real bang-up job at following).

    " 'Since the 1990s, it has been suggested that hazard-related concerns of TFA and other short-chain PFAAs are much lower than those of PFAAs with longer perfluoroalkyl chains, which are more #bioaccumulative and generally more #toxic,' the authors wrote back in October. 'However, these early reports did not consider TFA’s ubiquitous accumulation in the environment, in particular its observed accumulation in water resources and #bioaccumulation in various plants, including crops.'

    "One of the most dangerous things about PFAAs is what we don’t know about them. Unlike other PFAS (of which there are, sadly, thousands of different kinds), TFA is so small (a.k.a. ultrashort) that it’s water-soluble, meaning it likely passes through the human body pretty quickly. A new Nature article reports that some scientists find this evidence compelling enough to not even consider TFA a kind of PFAS, but a growing chorus of voices are raising concerns that increased concentrations of TFA in water and food sources could render TFA’s fast-moving nature a moot point.

    "In fact, TFA’s water-solubility could be a long-term headache. If scientists and governments eventually decide that TFA does need to be removed from drinking water and other sources, current filtration technologies are not up to the task. In other words, ridding the world of TFA will not only be immensely difficult, it’ll also be incredibly expensive. Current regulations to eliminate certain forms of PFAS are already proving to be fiscally onerous.

    "Thankfully, some governments are taking action. #Denmark, for example, banned 23 substances earlier this month known to contain PFAS that contribute to rising TFA concentrations. Meanwhile, the #US is lagging behind—the Environmental Protection Agency [#EPA] doesn’t even define TFA as a 'forever chemical,' much to the dismay of #environmentalist groups and to the merriment of many #industry leaders.

    "Rising concentrations of TFA is the acid rain sequel no one wanted. But just like every terrible sequel ever made, it seems like we’re getting it anyway."

    msn.com/en-us/travel/news/scie

    #WaterIsLife #Dupont #DowChemical #3M #ForeverChemicals #EPACuts #Deregulation #TrumpSucks #USPol #WorldPol #Environment #EnvironmentalDamage #GenXChemicals #3MLied

  11. Scientists Are Warning of A Brand-New Kind of #AcidRain

    Story by Darren Orf

    Key points:
    - While acid rain caused by sulfur dioxide is an environmental threat of the past (at least, for now), a new kind of acid is proliferating in rain water—as well as groundwater, ice cores, and even human blood.
    - #TrifluoroaceticAcid (#TFA) is a subclass of “#ForeverChemical” that’s been steadily increasing in concentrations around the world.
    - With calls to consider this rise in TFA a planetary threat, some governments are starting ban chemicals linked to TFA—but the threat will require global cooperation.

    "Acid rain may have a sequel, and like most sequels, it’s arguably worse.

    "While the world’s first bout of acid rain (at least, in modern times) came from increased concentrations of sulfuric acid produced largely from coal plants, this new #anthropogenic source is possibly more pervasive, more persistent, and more sinister. Its name is Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a kind of 'forever chemical' that, for decades, has been steadily increasing in #RainWater—but not just rain water.

    "Countries around the world have found increasing concentrations in #groundwater, #ArcticIceCores, #wine, and even #HumanBlood. In fact, TFA is likely the most pervasive form of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl (#PFAS)—technically, a subclass known as ultrashort-chain perfluoroalkyl acid (#PFAA)—on Earth due in part to the fact that longer-chain PFAS degrade into TFA via #incinerators or #SewageTreatment plants. They’re also used in #refrigerants instead of #chlorofluorocarbons and #hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which were famously known to deplete the Earth’s #OzoneLayer.

    "In October of 2024, a team of European environmental scientists raised the TFA alarm, stating that a rise in concentration could be considered a threat to '#PlanetaryBoundaries' — a system designed to make sure the planet remains #habitable for human life (which we are doing a real bang-up job at following).

    " 'Since the 1990s, it has been suggested that hazard-related concerns of TFA and other short-chain PFAAs are much lower than those of PFAAs with longer perfluoroalkyl chains, which are more #bioaccumulative and generally more #toxic,' the authors wrote back in October. 'However, these early reports did not consider TFA’s ubiquitous accumulation in the environment, in particular its observed accumulation in water resources and #bioaccumulation in various plants, including crops.'

    "One of the most dangerous things about PFAAs is what we don’t know about them. Unlike other PFAS (of which there are, sadly, thousands of different kinds), TFA is so small (a.k.a. ultrashort) that it’s water-soluble, meaning it likely passes through the human body pretty quickly. A new Nature article reports that some scientists find this evidence compelling enough to not even consider TFA a kind of PFAS, but a growing chorus of voices are raising concerns that increased concentrations of TFA in water and food sources could render TFA’s fast-moving nature a moot point.

    "In fact, TFA’s water-solubility could be a long-term headache. If scientists and governments eventually decide that TFA does need to be removed from drinking water and other sources, current filtration technologies are not up to the task. In other words, ridding the world of TFA will not only be immensely difficult, it’ll also be incredibly expensive. Current regulations to eliminate certain forms of PFAS are already proving to be fiscally onerous.

    "Thankfully, some governments are taking action. #Denmark, for example, banned 23 substances earlier this month known to contain PFAS that contribute to rising TFA concentrations. Meanwhile, the #US is lagging behind—the Environmental Protection Agency [#EPA] doesn’t even define TFA as a 'forever chemical,' much to the dismay of #environmentalist groups and to the merriment of many #industry leaders.

    "Rising concentrations of TFA is the acid rain sequel no one wanted. But just like every terrible sequel ever made, it seems like we’re getting it anyway."

    msn.com/en-us/travel/news/scie

    #WaterIsLife #Dupont #DowChemical #3M #ForeverChemicals #EPACuts #Deregulation #TrumpSucks #USPol #WorldPol #Environment #EnvironmentalDamage #GenXChemicals #3MLied

  12. Lifeless rock pools at Sawtell

    After cyclone Alfred whipped up a 'bacteria smoothy' along Australia's east coast the sea foam then merged with a 'flush' from the suburbs. Dislodged smelly sponges at Sawtell beach made breathing and contact impossible. Even without fossil fueled disasters the intertidal zone at the north end of the beach is barren. The rock pools and crevices no longer house sea anemones, crabs, black nerites, limpets, sea stars, mulberry oyster borers, algae, sea anemones, sponges, tube worms, sea stars, oysters, and fish.

    Still good enough for hosting 'sports' and advertising events amplified by megaphone so they can be heard at Lord Howe Island too.

    #FossilFuels #disasters #runoff #eutrophication #Seafoam #pollution #Nocardiae #sewage #SewageTreatment #NSW #Sawtell #beach #EventSpace #erosion #IntertidalZone #MarineLife #loss #biodiversity

  13. Lifeless rock pools at Sawtell

    After cyclone Alfred whipped up a 'bacteria smoothy' along Australia's east coast the sea foam then merged with a 'flush' from the suburbs. Dislodged smelly sponges at Sawtell beach made breathing and contact impossible. Even without fossil fueled disasters the intertidal zone at the north end of the beach is barren. The rock pools and crevices no longer house sea anemones, crabs, black nerites, limpets, sea stars, mulberry oyster borers, algae, sea anemones, sponges, tube worms, sea stars, oysters, and fish.

    Still good enough for hosting 'sports' and advertising events amplified by megaphone so they can be heard at Lord Howe Island too.

    #FossilFuels #disasters #runoff #eutrophication #Seafoam #pollution #Nocardiae #sewage #SewageTreatment #NSW #Sawtell #beach #EventSpace #erosion #IntertidalZone #MarineLife #loss #biodiversity

  14. Lifeless rock pools at Sawtell

    After cyclone Alfred whipped up a 'bacteria smoothy' along Australia's east coast the sea foam then merged with a 'flush' from the suburbs. Dislodged smelly sponges at Sawtell beach made breathing and contact impossible. Even without fossil fueled disasters the intertidal zone at the north end of the beach is barren. The rock pools and crevices no longer house sea anemones, crabs, black nerites, limpets, sea stars, mulberry oyster borers, algae, sea anemones, sponges, tube worms, sea stars, oysters, and fish.

    Still good enough for hosting 'sports' and advertising events amplified by megaphone so they can be heard at Lord Howe Island too.

    #FossilFuels #disasters #runoff #eutrophication #Seafoam #pollution #Nocardiae #sewage #SewageTreatment #NSW #Sawtell #beach #EventSpace #erosion #IntertidalZone #MarineLife #loss #biodiversity

  15. Lifeless rock pools at Sawtell

    After cyclone Alfred whipped up a 'bacteria smoothy' along Australia's east coast the sea foam then merged with a 'flush' from the suburbs. Dislodged smelly sponges at Sawtell beach made breathing and contact impossible. Even without fossil fueled disasters the intertidal zone at the north end of the beach is barren. The rock pools and crevices no longer house sea anemones, crabs, black nerites, limpets, sea stars, mulberry oyster borers, algae, sea anemones, sponges, tube worms, sea stars, oysters, and fish.

    Still good enough for hosting 'sports' and advertising events amplified by megaphone so they can be heard at Lord Howe Island too.

    #FossilFuels #disasters #runoff #eutrophication #Seafoam #pollution #Nocardiae #sewage #SewageTreatment #NSW #Sawtell #beach #EventSpace #erosion #IntertidalZone #MarineLife #loss #biodiversity

  16. Lifeless rock pools at Sawtell

    After cyclone Alfred whipped up a 'bacteria smoothy' along Australia's east coast the sea foam then merged with a 'flush' from the suburbs. Dislodged smelly sponges at Sawtell beach made breathing and contact impossible. Even without fossil fueled disasters the intertidal zone at the north end of the beach is barren. The rock pools and crevices no longer house sea anemones, crabs, black nerites, limpets, sea stars, mulberry oyster borers, algae, sea anemones, sponges, tube worms, sea stars, oysters, and fish.

    Still good enough for hosting 'sports' and advertising events amplified by megaphone so they can be heard at Lord Howe Island too.

    #FossilFuels #disasters #runoff #eutrophication #Seafoam #pollution #Nocardiae #sewage #SewageTreatment #NSW #Sawtell #beach #EventSpace #erosion #IntertidalZone #MarineLife #loss #biodiversity

  17. #CapitalRegionalDistrict board has come up with a strategy for dealing with the end product of the region’s #SewageTreatment process that will make a priority of using the resulting #biosolids for #fuel.

    Last week, the board moved forward a three-tiered approach that will form the heart of the #CRD’s long-term biosolids management plan to be submitted for #BCgovernment approval next month.

    timescolonist.com/local-news/c

    #Biochar #CRD #environmental #YYJ #Saanich #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #VanIsle

  18. AI to stop water pollution before it happens

    bbc.co.uk/news/science-environ

    Opinion: This uses the current buzz-words, AI, as a name for information gathering computers that we're all used to. No need to get paranoid that AI is about to take over the world with unpredictable results.

    #CombeMartin #NorthDevon #Devon #WaterQuality #WaterPollution #Monitoring #OrdnanceSurvey #NorthDevonBiosphereReserve #RiverUmber #SewageTreatment #RunOff