A study conducted by scientists reveals that rainwater has become excessively polluted all across the world, becoming undrinkable in even the most remote of areas.
Does anyone remember reading about acid rain in middle school geography? I’m not going to pretend that the experience was universal since I’m not super certain about how many syllables are shared across different education boards. However, I will say this: acid rain ended up becoming one of my biggest and most irrational fears out there. The idea of words such as “sulphuric acid” and “corrosive liquids” falling from the sky via a form of weather that I otherwise enjoyed immensely was just mind-boggling.
Of course, it was soon revealed to me that acid rain was a relatively uncommon phenomenon, and wouldn’t exactly melt the skin off of bones; it’d more likely just cause damage to some buildings and structures. Thus, my middle-school self remained unaware of just how prevalent toxins and pollutants in rainwater were. Or, at any rate, just how commonplace they were about to become in a relatively short period.
Researchers from Stockholm University, led by environmental science professor Ian Cousins, decided to test rigorous rainwater tests, measuring water content against several guidelines and tests. Their results ended up being much less confident about the world’s future than we would have hoped. In a nutshell, the study concluded that rainwater has essentially been classified as undrinkable, and not just in heavily populous or pollution-riddled areas either. The Antarctic and Tibetian Plateau, some of the most sparse population areas in the world, have also failed to meet drinkable water guidelines.
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluroalky Substances (PFAS) were the main measuring yardstick used to determine rainwater pollution levels in this study. PFAS also referred to as forever chemicals due to how long they take in decomposition, are becoming increasingly prevalent across the planet. This isn’t to say that they’re soon about to reach dangerous levels because according to many scientists that benchmark came and went a while back. The Stockholm University research utilized multiple PFAS parameters established by organizations such as the US EPA to establish when PFA content in water reached levels deemed undrinkable.
While water filtration can still make water drinkable, at least by some standards, decisive action needs to be taken against massive corporations and factories to stop the spread of PFAS dead in its tracks.
H/T: Motherboard
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Does anyone remember reading about acid rain in middle school geography? I’m not going to pretend that the experience was universal since I’m not super certain about how many syllables are shared across different education boards. However, I will say this: acid rain ended up becoming one of my biggest and most irrational fears out there. The idea of words such as “sulphuric acid” and “corrosive liquids” falling from the sky via a form of weather that I otherwise enjoyed immensely was just mind-boggling.
Of course, it was soon revealed to me that acid rain was a relatively uncommon phenomenon, and wouldn’t exactly melt the skin off of bones; it’d more likely just cause damage to some buildings and structures. Thus, my middle-school self remained unaware of just how prevalent toxins and pollutants in rainwater were. Or, at any rate, just how commonplace they were about to become in a relatively short period.
Researchers from Stockholm University, led by environmental science professor Ian Cousins, decided to test rigorous rainwater tests, measuring water content against several guidelines and tests. Their results ended up being much less confident about the world’s future than we would have hoped. In a nutshell, the study concluded that rainwater has essentially been classified as undrinkable, and not just in heavily populous or pollution-riddled areas either. The Antarctic and Tibetian Plateau, some of the most sparse population areas in the world, have also failed to meet drinkable water guidelines.
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluroalky Substances (PFAS) were the main measuring yardstick used to determine rainwater pollution levels in this study. PFAS also referred to as forever chemicals due to how long they take in decomposition, are becoming increasingly prevalent across the planet. This isn’t to say that they’re soon about to reach dangerous levels because according to many scientists that benchmark came and went a while back. The Stockholm University research utilized multiple PFAS parameters established by organizations such as the US EPA to establish when PFA content in water reached levels deemed undrinkable.
While water filtration can still make water drinkable, at least by some standards, decisive action needs to be taken against massive corporations and factories to stop the spread of PFAS dead in its tracks.
H/T: Motherboard
Read next: TikTok Accounts Crossing The ‘One Million Followers’ Mark Have Declined 41% From Last Year
