A Connecticut dairy farmer’s rising PFAS levels raise concerns about incinerators' role in spreading toxic “forever chemicals” through the air.
Nora Belblidia reports for Undark.
In short:
- Despite growing research linking PFAS to serious health issues like cancer and immune dysfunction, federal regulations still don’t treat the chemicals as air pollutants.
- Incineration is a potential solution for destroying PFAS, but experts say success depends on extreme heat, specific timing, and careful testing — none of which are guaranteed at many U.S. facilities.
- Limited testing tools and federal standards leave states like Connecticut unable to monitor incinerator emissions properly, frustrating residents who live nearby.
Key quote:
“There’s a lot of people who think that incineration is this magic thing for PFAS, which it’s not.”
— Gail Carlson, assistant professor of environmental studies at Colby College
Why this matters:
When it comes to chemical safety, wishful thinking isn’t the same as science. As incineration becomes a more common method of PFAS disposal, unclear regulations and limited oversight mean communities could be breathing in toxic compounds without knowing it. Until we know how to safely destroy PFAS, setting them on fire may just be another way of spreading the problem.
Read more: PFAS removal discovery not yet a ‘powerful solution’
