Rainwater almost all over the world has unsafe levels of chemicals, according to recent research. Most of the current rain contains Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
PFAS is a large family of man-made chemicals that do not occur in nature. They are known as durable chemicals because they do not decompose in the environment.
Quoted from Euro News, PFAS has anti-sticky or anti-stain properties so it can be found in household items such as food packaging, electronics, cosmetics and cookware.
But now, researchers at Stockholm University found PFAS content in rainwater in most locations on Earth, including Antarctica. There is no safe place to escape from this poison.
Not safe to drink
Safe guideline levels for some chemicals have dropped dramatically over the past two decades as new insights into their toxicity have emerged.
"There has been an astonishing decrease in guideline values for PFAS in drinking water in the last 20 years," said Ian Cousins, lead author of the study and professor at Stockholm University's Department of Environmental Sciences.
For example, for a well-known substance called cancer-causing perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA, the guideline value of its content in water has decreased 37.5 million times in the US.
"Based on the latest US guidelines for PFOA in drinking water, rainwater everywhere will be deemed unsafe to drink," he said.
"Although in the industrial world we don't often drink rainwater, many people around the world hope that the water is safe to drink and supplies many of our drinking water sources," he said.
What are the risks of these long-lasting chemicals to our health? The health risks of exposure to this substance have been widely researched. Scientists say that they can be linked to fertility problems, increased risk of cancer and developmental delays in children.
While other studies say there is no cause and effect that can be proven between these chemicals and poor health. Despite this, and as a result of this new research, some are calling for stricter restrictions on PFAS.
"Don't let a few people benefit economically from this substance, while it contaminates drinking water for millions of others, and causes serious health problems," said Dr Jane Muncke, executive director of the Food Packing Foundation in Zurich who was not involved in this research.
"The huge cost of efforts to reduce PFAS in drinking water to a safe level, based on current scientific understanding, needs to be paid for by the industry that produces and uses these toxic chemicals," he concluded.