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Summary

Researchers have found that only a small fraction of scientific studies that link Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to serious health risks, such as birth defects and cancer, receive the public attention they deserve. Executives at DuPont and 3M, two of the largest PFAS manufacturers in the US, were first alerted to health risks in 1961, but failed to raise the alarm until the 1990s. Research bodies such as large academic institutions typically issue press releases to garner media attention to get the word out, but studies that come with media releases only receive 20 times more attention than the studies that did not. Researchers urge scientists and their institutions to embrace media outreach as a critical part of the research process to inform better policies, medical practices, industry innovation, and more.

Q&As

How many Americans have been estimated to have PFAS in their blood?
A 2007 estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the total share of Americans with PFAS in their blood at a staggering 98 percent.

What is the half life of PFOA?
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is estimated to have a half-life ranging from several years to more than a decade in the environment before breaking down.

What are some of the health risks linked to PFAS exposure?
Elevated cancer risk, birth defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight rates.

What did the US Geological Survey find when testing water sources for PFAS?
They found that 45 percent of drinking water sources contained at least one PFAS - with highest concentrations in the Great Plains, the Great Lakes, the Eastern Seaboard and Central/Southern California.

How did manufacturers respond to evidence of health risks associated with PFAS in the early 1960s?
Executives at DuPont and 3M, two of the largest PFAS manufacturers in the US, were first alerted to health risks in 1961, but failed to raise the alarm until the 1990s.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an in-depth look into the dangers of PFAS and the need for greater public awareness. The research conducted by the Green Science Policy Institute and US Geological Survey is critical for understanding the risks posed by PFAS and helping to address the issue.

👎 This article does not provide any solutions or actionable steps to mitigate the harms of PFAS. It simply highlights the dangers of these chemicals and the need for greater public awareness, without any meaningful discussion of how to actually address the problem.

AI Discussion

Me: It discusses the implications of the great forever chemical cover-up. Most studies that link PFAS to serious health problems are flying under the radar, and scientists are warning that manufacturers may have suppressed the true dangers of these toxins.

Friend: That's really concerning. It sounds like there's a lot of evidence pointing to the health risks associated with PFAS exposure, but it hasn't been getting the public attention it deserves.

Me: Exactly. The Green Science Policy Institute found that only 8% of the most substantial scientific explorations into health outcomes of people exposed to PFAS have come with press alerts to garner much-needed media attention. And the press alerts that do exist are typically poorly written or misconstrued, so the public isn't getting the full picture of the potential health risks. It's also concerning that executives at DuPont and 3M were alerted to health risks in 1961, but failed to raise the alarm until the 1990s.

Friend: That's really troubling. It sounds like we need to do something to raise awareness of the potential risks of PFAS exposure so that people can make informed decisions.

Action items

Educate yourself and others on the dangers of PFAS exposure and the potential health risks associated with it.
Contact your local representatives and urge them to take action to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water sources.
Support organizations that are advocating for stricter regulations on PFAS manufacturers and for more research into the potential health risks associated with PFAS exposure.

Technical terms

PFAS: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a type of chemical used in manufacturing and industry that persists in the environment and can accumulate in the body.
Half-life: The time it takes for half of the initial amount of a chemical to degrade or disappear.
PFOA: Perfluorooctanoic acid, one of the most studied PFAS chemicals.
Runoff: Water that flows over the surface of the land, typically carrying pollutants from agricultural and industrial activities.
Press release: A statement issued to the media by a research body to garner attention for a scientific conclusion.
Press alert: A press release issued to the media to draw attention to a scientific study.