Understanding PFAS: A Look at the Awareness and Impact on U.S. Drinking Water

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Water poured into a clear glass.
Water poured into a clear glass.

The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. drinking water has emerged as a critical environmental and public health issue. Despite increasing media coverage and governmental attention, a significant gap exists in the general public’s understanding of PFAS. An exploratory study by Texas A&M AgriLife scientists and published in PLoS ONE, aimed to bridge this gap by assessing public awareness regarding PFAS and their potential impact on community health and drinking water.

Key Findings of the Nationwide Survey

  • Limited Public Awareness: Alarmingly, nearly half of the respondents (45.1%) were unfamiliar with PFAS. Additionally, 31.6% had heard of PFAS but lacked an understanding of what it entails.
     
  • Perception of Drinking Water Safety: A striking 97.4% did not believe their drinking water was affected by PFAS, indicating a disconnect between public perception and environmental realities.
     
  • Community Exposure as a Predictor: Awareness due to known community exposure emerged as the strongest predictor of PFAS awareness. Those aware of community exposure were more informed about PFAS sources and likely to change their product usage habits.

PFAS: An Overview

PFAS, often termed “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and in our bodies, are resistant to water, grease, and heat and found in a range of everyday products including food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, and toilet paper. PFAS have been widely used in various industrial processes and consumer products since the 1940s. Their presence in products ranging from non-stick cookware to fire extinguishing foams raises significant environmental concerns, particularly in water sources. The resistance of PFAS to degradation leads to bioaccumulation, posing serious health risks such as cancer, hormone disruption, liver damage, weakened immune systems, and reproductive harm.

Regulatory Response and Public Health Implications

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently proposed stricter regulations to limit PFAS in drinking water, reducing the maximum contaminant levels from 70 parts per trillion (ppt) to 4 ppt. This move, coupled with significant financial settlements from major corporations for PFAS clean-up, highlights the urgency of addressing PFAS contamination. However, the public’s limited awareness and understanding hinder effective response and mitigation efforts.

The Gap in Public Perception and Knowledge

The importance of knowing about PFAS lies in the need to understand the potential health risks associated with exposure to these substances. The general public’s awareness and knowledge of PFAS have been found to be limited, with only about half of the respondents in a nationwide survey stating they were aware of PFAS as an environmental contaminant. This study underscores a critical gap in public awareness and understanding of PFAS. This lack of awareness extends to the potential contamination of their primary drinking water sources.

Community exposure was identified as the strongest predicting factor regarding the level of public knowledge and awareness of PFAS and its sources. Therefore, it is crucial to provide accurate, real-time data on PFAS exposure to empower consumers to make informed decisions and take necessary precautions. Additionally, clear labeling of PFAS products is essential to allow consumers to be aware of their exposure frequency and make adjustments in product use as desired.

The Role of Effective Communication

Government agencies, research organizations, universities, utilities, and scientific institutions must collaborate to provide clear, accessible, and actionable information about PFAS, their sources, and health implications. This effort should aim to make the information relevant and understandable to the general public, encouraging informed decision-making and behavioral changes to reduce PFAS exposure. Manufacturers should clearly label their products with the presence of PFAS. This transparency allows consumers to be aware of their exposure frequency and make adjustments in product use. Consumers may want to install point-of-use treatment devices, such as under-sink or countertop filters, in their homes to remove PFAS from drinking water. These devices often use activated carbon or reverse osmosis technology to effectively reduce PFAS levels.

Source: Berthold TA, McCrary A, deVilleneuve S, Schramm M (2023) Let’s talk about PFAS: Inconsistent public awareness about PFAS and its sources in the United States. PLoS ONE 18(11): e0294134.

State of Climate Action 2023: A Call for Urgent, Transformative Change

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The cover of the State of Climate Action 2023 report, featuring global climate targets and urgent action steps.
State of Climate Action 2023 cover

The State of Climate Action 2023 provides the world’s most comprehensive roadmap of how to close the gap in climate action across sectors to limit global warming to 1.5°C. This pivotal report aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C by accelerating efforts across various sectors, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate and scaled-up action.

Understanding the Global Stocktake

Central to the report’s timing is the final phase of the Global Stocktake, a crucial process under the Paris Agreement. The Global Stocktake is a systematic review conducted every five years to assess collective progress toward achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. This includes evaluating the effectiveness of actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change, and provide necessary support to developing countries. The outcomes of the Global Stocktake are pivotal in informing and enhancing international climate action, ensuring that the global response to climate change remains on track and is continuously improved upon.

Global Stocktake and the Roadmap Ahead

Published in anticipation of the Global Stocktake’s final phase, the State of Climate Action 2023 report provides actionable insights, translating the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature limit into tangible 2030 and 2050 targets. These targets encompass sectors responsible for approximately 85% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including power, buildings, industry, transport, forests, land, food, agriculture, technological carbon removal, and climate finance.

Assessment of Current Progress

A sobering reality check, the report reveals that the current pace of progress towards 1.5°C-aligned targets is alarmingly inadequate. Except for the sales of electric passenger cars, every other indicator is lagging significantly, underscoring the urgent need for acceleration in climate action.

Key Findings: A Mixed Bag of Progress and Setbacks

The analysis of 42 indicators shows a glaring shortfall in achieving the 2030 targets. More than half of these indicators are far off course, demanding at least a twofold increase in efforts this decade. Particularly concerning are areas such as public financing for fossil fuels, deforestation, and carbon pricing systems, which have regressed significantly.

State of Climate Action 2023 visual overview

Bright Spots Amidst Challenges

Despite the grim findings, there are glimmers of hope. The exponential growth in electric vehicle sales over the past five years marks a significant stride towards the 2030 target. Similarly, promising developments in mandatory corporate climate risk disclosure, sales of electric trucks, and the share of EVs in passenger car fleets offer optimism.

The Urgent Need for Accelerated Action

To align with the 2030 targets, drastic escalations are required across all sectors. This includes:

  • Increase growth in solar and wind power. The share of these two technologies in electricity generation needs to reach 24 percent, from an annual average of 14 percent, to get on track for 2030.
     
  • A sevenfold acceleration in phasing out coal in electricity generation. This is equivalent to retiring roughly 240 average-sized coal-fired power plants each year through 2030. However, the continued build-out of coal-fired power will increase the number of plants that need to be shuttered in the coming years.  
     
  • A sixfold expansion in rapid transit infrastructure coverage. This is equivalent to constructing public transit systems roughly three times the size of New York City’s network of subway rails, bus lanes, and light-rail tracks each year throughout this decade.
     
  • The annual rate of deforestation — equivalent to deforesting 15 football (soccer) fields per minute in 2022 — needs to be reduced fourfold over this decade.
     
  • An eightfold increase in the shift to healthier, more sustainable diets. This involves lowering per capita consumption of meat from cows, goats, and sheep to approximately two servings per week or less across high-consuming regions (the Americas, Europe, and Oceania) by 2030.   

Conclusion: An Urgent Call for Transformative Change

The State of Climate Action 2023 Action 2023 serves as a stark reminder of the immense work ahead. With only a single indicator on track for its 2030 target, the report underscores the need for immediate, transformative changes in every sector. This decisive moment calls for governments, corporations, and individuals to embrace systemic changes, ensuring a sustainable future for our planet.

Latin America and the Caribbean: Pioneers in the Global Energy Transition

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Latin America Energy Outlook 2023 report cover
Latin America Energy Outlook 2023

The latest IEA report, Latin America Energy Outlook, shines a spotlight on Latin America and the Caribbean, underscoring their pivotal role in the global energy landscape amidst rising geopolitical uncertainties and rapid energy transitions. This region, rich in energy and mineral resources and a leader in clean energy, is poised to significantly influence both regional and global energy sectors.

A Resource-Rich Region with a Clean Energy Legacy

The Latin America Energy Outlook, IEA’s first comprehensive analysis covering all 33 countries in the region, reveals a treasure trove of resources. From renewables like hydropower, wind, and solar to oil, gas, and vital minerals, the region is well-equipped to contribute to global energy security and clean transitions. This report is a culmination of extensive collaboration with regional governments, experts, and stakeholders, building on IEA’s long-standing engagement with the area.

Renewables account for 60% of the region’s electricity production, double the global average, with hydropower leading the charge. Countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina are also home to some of the best wind and solar resources globally. Furthermore, the region is a significant bioenergy player and a leading biofuel exporter.

A Potential Global Energy Powerhouse

Latin America and the Caribbean hold about 15% of the world’s oil and natural gas resources. The region is also crucial for producing minerals essential for clean energy technologies, boasting about half of the world’s lithium reserves and significant proportions of copper and silver. This clean electricity supply is the backbone for sustainable mining and processing of these materials.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol highlights the region’s potential in the new global energy economy, emphasizing the need for supportive policies and international cooperation to fully harness this potential.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Despite the promise, the report identifies a policy implementation gap. While 16 of the 33 countries have committed to net-zero emissions by mid-century, current policies still heavily rely on fossil fuels, especially for road transport. However, if pledges are realized, renewables could meet all new energy demands this decade, increasing oil exports and driving low-cost, low-emissions hydrogen production. This shift would also double long-term revenues from critical minerals to nearly USD 200 billion.

Key Actions and Investments for a Sustainable Future

To reduce energy-related CO2 emissions, the report suggests four key actions: ramping up renewable energy, electrifying industry and transport, advancing energy efficiency, and improving access to clean cooking solutions. Investment in clean energy projects needs to double by 2030 to USD 150 billion and rise fivefold by 2050.

Towards a Greener Future

The region, already engaged in the Global Methane Pledge and the Glasgow Pledge to halt deforestation, is on a promising path. The IEA is committed to supporting these transitions, as Latin America and the Caribbean stride towards a secure and fairer global energy system.