If you have ever consumed any of the city of Loveland’s water, you have consumed what are known as “forever chemicals.”
PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, is a group of over 12,000 man-made chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in almost every kind of product available to consumers. Due to their proximity to so many materials in our society, as Rachel Layne explains in her article “PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water” for The Journalist’s Resource, they have largely become part of our water supply. This can happen through methods such as the discharging of the chemicals directly into water by manufacturers or the release of excess chemicals into the open air and subsequently into nearby water. People also come into contact with PFAS through food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, and more.
PFAS are made of linked carbon and fluorine atoms, Layne continues, and due to their composition, they do not break down easily. This is why they have earned the nickname of “forever chemicals” - they stay in the environment, and our bodies, for a long time. So what exactly do PFAs do? Forever chemicals have been linked to an increased risk for autoimmune diseases, kinds of cancer, pregnancy complications, and heart diseases, to name a few.
Since the beginning of 2024, light has been shed on this topic since new regulations, namely a water standard established by the Biden-Harris administration, have come into public view. These standards work to ensure communities across America have access to safe water with proper regulations on PFAS, as the EPA details in their report on the new standard.
Forever chemicals have become a prevalent topic in the Loveland community as recent tests, as well as the emphasis on new PFA level standards, have shown that Loveland has the highest level of PFAS in the Cincinnati area. The new, safe standard to be enforced is a level of 4 ppt (parts per trillion). A recent presentation from environmentalist organization Sierra Group announced that Cincinnati’s level is 4.2 ppt, Indian Hill’s is 12.4 ppt and Loveland’s ranges from a whopping 14 to 35 ppt.
Many Loveland residents are not even aware of the presence of PFAS in their water, and yet it is certain they have been consuming them as long as they’ve resided in this town. To combat the dangerous levels of forever chemicals in our water, filters can be bought to treat the water. Using techniques such as reverse osmosis (RO), where only water and select compounds fit past the membrane, or granular activated carbon (GAC), where a carbon material absorbs PFAS, filters can clean water to be safe from forever chemicals. Make sure the filters are certified as NSF P473, NSF/ANSI 53 for GAC, or NSF 58 for RO before purchasing.
Despite citizen concerns, the city of Loveland has currently done little in response to this understated crisis. The city claims it is working with an engineering firm to update the city’s water treatment facility, but how long this will take or what will come from it is unclear. In the meantime, however, it is important we take our own steps to protect ourselves and our community from the dangers of forever chemicals.