Opinion: PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are a class of thousands of man-made chemicals used widely in everyday consumer items such as textiles, packaging, and cookware, popular for their water, grease and stain-repellent properties. However, the very properties that make PFAS so attractive to manufacturers are also what make them persist in the environment, earning them the moniker of ‘forever chemicals’. They are even found in remote locations on Earth because they do not break down easily.
We recently completed a study in which we took drinking water samples from 20 locations around the country, including suburbs in Auckland and other regions. To our pleasant surprise, the results revealed PFAS levels below some of the world’s strictest regulations. This is significant for the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders, especially in the context of widespread PFAS contamination globally.
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