The Centers for Disease Control has linked a host of health effects with long-term PFAS exposure, including increased risk of certain cancers, birth defects, decreased fertility, thyroid disease and more. https://news.engin.umich.edu/2023/04/unbreakable-bonds/
Michigan officials have identified more than 230 sites with levels above the EPA's health limit for groundwater. But they estimate that number could be well over 11,000. Nationally, the EPA believes there may be 120,000 sites where people were exposed to the forever chemical, including hundreds of military bases.
Now, University of Michigan researchers, led by professor John Foster, are working to remove the “forever” label from PFAS chemicals. They have developed a “cold plasma” technology that breaks the molecules down to harmless elements.
It may be a game changer for the environment and people, especially because PFAS chemicals have been working their way into our environment, bodies and lives since the 1940s. And new chemicals with uncertain long-term impacts continue to arrive.
Read our feature story:
"Unbreakable Bonds"
https://news.engin.umich.edu/2023/04/unbreakable-bonds/
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Watch more videos from Michigan Engineering and subscribe: @MichiganEngineering
The University of Michigan College of Engineering is one of the world’s top engineering schools. Michigan Engineering is home to 12 highly-ranked departments, and its research budget is among the largest of any public university.
http://engin.umich.edu
Follow University of Michigan Engineering:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/umengineering
Facebook: https://facebook.com/michigan.engineering
Instagram: https://instagram.com/michiganengineering
Michigan officials have identified more than 230 sites with levels above the EPA's health limit for groundwater. But they estimate that number could be well over 11,000. Nationally, the EPA believes there may be 120,000 sites where people were exposed to the forever chemical, including hundreds of military bases.
Now, University of Michigan researchers, led by professor John Foster, are working to remove the “forever” label from PFAS chemicals. They have developed a “cold plasma” technology that breaks the molecules down to harmless elements.
It may be a game changer for the environment and people, especially because PFAS chemicals have been working their way into our environment, bodies and lives since the 1940s. And new chemicals with uncertain long-term impacts continue to arrive.
Read our feature story:
"Unbreakable Bonds"
https://news.engin.umich.edu/2023/04/unbreakable-bonds/
------
Watch more videos from Michigan Engineering and subscribe: @MichiganEngineering
The University of Michigan College of Engineering is one of the world’s top engineering schools. Michigan Engineering is home to 12 highly-ranked departments, and its research budget is among the largest of any public university.
http://engin.umich.edu
Follow University of Michigan Engineering:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/umengineering
Facebook: https://facebook.com/michigan.engineering
Instagram: https://instagram.com/michiganengineering
