Rachel Scholes, an expert on PFAS — also called forever chemicals — says a European study that found rainwater is unsafe to drink globally highlights just how ubiquitous the toxic substances are in the environment.
VANCOUVER — A University of B.C. expert on PFAS — also known as forever chemicals — has applied to do research on how much of the toxic substances lurk in B.C.’s drinking water.
Exposure to the chemicals, which are widely used in rain gear and non-stick cookware, have been shown to have a wide range of health impacts, including immune suppression, cancer and cardiovascular disease, said Rachel Scholes, an assistant professor in UBC’s department of civil engineering.
She spoke to Postmedia Wednesday following a European study that shows rainwater is unsafe to drink globally because of the persistent levels of PFAS in the atmosphere.
