Summary
Officials found high levels of PFAS, known as forever chemicals, in sea foam at beaches in North Carolina. These chemicals are slow to break down and can pose risks to both human health and the environment. The study by the American Chemical Society highlights a need for more research and monitoring.
Key Facts
- PFAS are chemicals that take a long time to break down and can contaminate the environment.
- North Carolina beaches have sea foam with PFAS at levels much higher than in seawater.
- A study looked at 13 locations and found 35 different types of PFAS in samples.
- Some foam samples had PFAS concentrations over one million parts-per-trillion.
- PFOS, a PFAS type regulated by the EPA, was among the detected chemicals.
- The study emphasizes the importance of understanding how these chemicals move between water sources and the potential risks they pose.
