A recent study reveals that municipal landfills emit toxic "forever chemicals" into the atmosphere, posing serious health risks.
Sharon Udasin reports for The Hill.
In short:
- Scientists detected high levels of PFAS, known as "forever chemicals," in the air at three Florida landfills.
- These persistent pollutants linked to cancers and other illnesses are found in many household and industrial products.
- The study suggests that landfill gas, often untreated, is a significant source of PFAS pollution.
Key quote:
“These findings suggest that landfill gas, a less scrutinized byproduct, serves as a major pathway for the mobility of PFAS from landfill.”— Study "Landfill Gas: A Major Pathway for Neutral Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Release."
Why this matters:
Understanding that landfills are a source of airborne PFAS highlights a new environmental and health concern, calling for improved waste management and pollution control strategies. Read more: Every stage of plastic production and use is harming human health.
