PFAS chemicalsWBUR's ongoing coverage of so-called "forever chemicals" known as PFAS.Study: Toxic contamination at Joint Base Cape Cod could persist for centuriesToxic PFAS chemicals from a fire training site at Joint Base Cape Cod are still leaching into groundwater decades after training took place, according to a new study from Harvard...EnvironmentMay 15, 2023Mass. firefighters and their families are on the front lines of a battle with 'forever chemicals'PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," are found in the protective gear firefighters wear. Some members of the firefighting community are raising concerns about the health risks of PFAS, and...PlayHealth05:34Apr 18, 2023Advertisement Our sewage often becomes fertilizer. Problem is, it's tainted with PFASAbout half the wastewater sludge in the United States is turned into fertilizer. Some want to ban the practice because the sludge contains PFAS and can contaminate food crops. Others...PlayEnvironment06:13Mar 30, 2023Firefighter union sues Mass. group over toxic chemicals in protective gearThe International Association of Fire Fighters is suing the Quincy-based group that sets national standards for firefighters' protective gear, saying it colluded with industry and set guidelines that resulted in...HealthMar 16, 2023EPA proposes regulations on 6 toxic 'forever chemicals' in drinking waterThe regulations would limit the two most common PFAS chemicals — PFOA and PFOS — to four parts per trillion; and also limit any mixture containing one or more of...EnvironmentMar 14, 2023In 13 state parks, Mass. officials issue advisories for fish consumption due to PFASThe recommendations vary based on the body of water, the type of fish and the person eating it. The ponds, lakes and reservoirs with new warnings include Walden Pond in...HealthMar 7, 2023Tracing the path of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ inside the bodyPFAS have been linked to a long and growing list of health concerns. Scientists are beginning to better understand how these chemicals affect so many different organs and systems in...PlayHealth05:41Feb 16, 2023Private well owners stuck with costs to treat 'forever chemicals'There are no state or federal regulations regarding private wells and the chemicals known as PFAS. This gap creates inequities for the 600,000 Massachusetts residents who get drinking water from...PlayEnvironment05:21Feb 15, 2023Toxic 'forever chemicals' force Mass. towns to face 'true cost of water'Massachusetts' limit on PFAS in drinking water is one of the strictest in the country. Removing the chemicals from drinking water can cost millions, and so far, communities have footed...PlayEnvironment04:52Feb 14, 2023PFAS expert tips: How to reduce your exposure to harmful ‘forever chemicals’PFAS chemicals are in our water, in our food, in our air and on our skin. And they are linked to a long and growing list of medical concerns. WBUR...PlayHealth05:06Feb 13, 2023Organic compost is the likely culprit of PFAS contamination in a rural Massachusetts townThe Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a new warning that no level of PFAS in water is safe.PlayHere & Now10:56Aug 8, 2022Report recommends blood tests, medical monitoring for people exposed to toxic PFAS chemicalsThe report says there is sufficient evidence of association between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer in adults, as well as decreased immune response in adults and children. The toxins have...EnvironmentJul 28, 2022North Carolina grapples with PFAS contamination as EPA stresses dangersPFAS is a substance used on non-stick pans and fire retardants.PlayHere & Now08:59Jun 29, 2022'Forever chemicals' widespread in Mass. surface and ground water, says new reportA new analysis of Massachusetts public water systems by the Sierra Club finds that 70% of communities have detectable levels of the six most dangerous PFAS chemicals in their ground...Local CoverageOct 29, 2021What are PFAS chemicals, and should I be freaking out about them?There are thousands of chemicals in the PFAS family. Here are answers to some common questions about them.Local CoverageNov 8, 2019
Study: Toxic contamination at Joint Base Cape Cod could persist for centuriesToxic PFAS chemicals from a fire training site at Joint Base Cape Cod are still leaching into groundwater decades after training took place, according to a new study from Harvard...EnvironmentMay 15, 2023
Mass. firefighters and their families are on the front lines of a battle with 'forever chemicals'PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," are found in the protective gear firefighters wear. Some members of the firefighting community are raising concerns about the health risks of PFAS, and...PlayHealth05:34Apr 18, 2023
Our sewage often becomes fertilizer. Problem is, it's tainted with PFASAbout half the wastewater sludge in the United States is turned into fertilizer. Some want to ban the practice because the sludge contains PFAS and can contaminate food crops. Others...PlayEnvironment06:13Mar 30, 2023
Firefighter union sues Mass. group over toxic chemicals in protective gearThe International Association of Fire Fighters is suing the Quincy-based group that sets national standards for firefighters' protective gear, saying it colluded with industry and set guidelines that resulted in...HealthMar 16, 2023
EPA proposes regulations on 6 toxic 'forever chemicals' in drinking waterThe regulations would limit the two most common PFAS chemicals — PFOA and PFOS — to four parts per trillion; and also limit any mixture containing one or more of...EnvironmentMar 14, 2023
In 13 state parks, Mass. officials issue advisories for fish consumption due to PFASThe recommendations vary based on the body of water, the type of fish and the person eating it. The ponds, lakes and reservoirs with new warnings include Walden Pond in...HealthMar 7, 2023
Tracing the path of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ inside the bodyPFAS have been linked to a long and growing list of health concerns. Scientists are beginning to better understand how these chemicals affect so many different organs and systems in...PlayHealth05:41Feb 16, 2023
Private well owners stuck with costs to treat 'forever chemicals'There are no state or federal regulations regarding private wells and the chemicals known as PFAS. This gap creates inequities for the 600,000 Massachusetts residents who get drinking water from...PlayEnvironment05:21Feb 15, 2023
Toxic 'forever chemicals' force Mass. towns to face 'true cost of water'Massachusetts' limit on PFAS in drinking water is one of the strictest in the country. Removing the chemicals from drinking water can cost millions, and so far, communities have footed...PlayEnvironment04:52Feb 14, 2023
PFAS expert tips: How to reduce your exposure to harmful ‘forever chemicals’PFAS chemicals are in our water, in our food, in our air and on our skin. And they are linked to a long and growing list of medical concerns. WBUR...PlayHealth05:06Feb 13, 2023
Organic compost is the likely culprit of PFAS contamination in a rural Massachusetts townThe Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a new warning that no level of PFAS in water is safe.PlayHere & Now10:56Aug 8, 2022
Report recommends blood tests, medical monitoring for people exposed to toxic PFAS chemicalsThe report says there is sufficient evidence of association between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer in adults, as well as decreased immune response in adults and children. The toxins have...EnvironmentJul 28, 2022
North Carolina grapples with PFAS contamination as EPA stresses dangersPFAS is a substance used on non-stick pans and fire retardants.PlayHere & Now08:59Jun 29, 2022
'Forever chemicals' widespread in Mass. surface and ground water, says new reportA new analysis of Massachusetts public water systems by the Sierra Club finds that 70% of communities have detectable levels of the six most dangerous PFAS chemicals in their ground...Local CoverageOct 29, 2021
What are PFAS chemicals, and should I be freaking out about them?There are thousands of chemicals in the PFAS family. Here are answers to some common questions about them.Local CoverageNov 8, 2019