More Evidence Emerges About Risk of 'Forever Chemicals'
Italian study links death from cardiovascular disease to contaminated drinking water
The latest findings reveal a concerning link between exposure to contaminated drinking water and an increased likelihood of death from cardiovascular disease. A new study conducted in the Veneto region of Italy has connected exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence in both the human body and the environment.
There are more than 15,000 PFAS chemicals, several of which were found in drinking water samples collected from the Veneto region, including PFOA, PFBA, PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFOS, PFHpA, and PFHxS.
Exposure to these chemicals has been associated with various health issues, including several types of cancer, pre-eclampsia, elevated cholesterol levels, ulcerative colitis, reproductive disruption, and reduced vaccine efficacy in children.
The source of polluted drinking water and groundwater in this region of Italy is industrial air emissions, mirroring similar situations, detailed in my recent paper, that have unfolded in New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Kilrush, Ireland.
According to news reports, the primary source of air pollution likely originated from the now-bankrupt Miteni (formerly Ri.Mar) factory in the town of Trissino, province of Vicenza, which has been in operation since the 1950s. The company began testing hydro-repellent textile materials in 1964 and was later acquired by Mitsubishi. In 2020, news reports revealed that thirteen managers from Miteni and its main shareholders — Luxembourg’s International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG) and Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation — are facing criminal charges for pollution and environmental disaster.
Unfortunately, this issue is not confined to Italy or any single country or continent. Globally, regulations have not kept pace with the manufacture of these and other hazardous chemicals that we encounter in our daily lives.
These findings highlight the urgent need for ongoing research and regulatory efforts to address and mitigate the potential health risks associated with PFAS exposure in drinking water, both locally and globally.
You can read more about this work in my book Female Disruptors: Stories of Mighty Female Scientists. The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and through your local bookstore.
"Female Disruptors is a wonderful mix of stories about mighty female scientists, and carefully documented data on everything from discrimination against women in STEM to the impact of balancing a career in science with motherhood. Mindi makes this personal by interweaving her own stories, which makes the work come alive. If you want to both be infuriated at woman scientist's plight, and also hear words of hope, and solid ideas for change, read this book."
~ Dr. Linda Rhodes, VMD, PhD