Study Finds Alarmingly High Levels of PFAS Contamination in Small Estuaries

By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes | EcoWatch | January 29, 2024

Read the full article by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes (EcoWatch)

"A new study has discovered that small coastal estuaries contain concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals” high enough to indicate a worldwide issue.

For the study, the researchers looked at the distribution, occurrence and risks of PFAS during the dry season in three micro-estuaries, a press release from Hebrew University of Jerusalem said.

“Microestuaries have a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and human life quality in heavily populated areas. They are also the last barrier controlling fluxes of pollutants from the land to sea,” the authors of the study wrote. “The need for green zones and ecosystem services is constantly on the rise, with few to null open areas available to provide these necessities in highly urbanized areas.”