The Forever Chemical Scandal | Bloomberg Investigates

Bloomberg Originals

8 Nov 202348:03

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe video examines the health and environmental impacts of PFAS or 'forever chemicals' - toxic man-made substances used widely since the 1940s in consumer products like nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing. Tracing the chemicals from their manufacturing sources to buildup in human blood and passing to children, the script details scientific research showing links to cancer, thyroid disease and other illnesses, as well as ecological harm. It explores the history of corporate knowledge yet lack of disclosure about PFAS dangers, sparking outrage and inspiring activism worldwide to restrict their use.

Takeaways

😱 PFAS chemicals originated from the Manhattan Project and were later commercialized for consumer products without adequate safety testing
😢 PFAS chemicals have contaminated water supplies across the globe, exposing millions of people
🤢 PFAS accumulate in the body and environment over time due to their stable "forever chemical" structure
😠 Internal documents showed companies like 3M and DuPont knew of risks decades before warning the public
😰 Health impacts of PFAS exposure can include immune disorders, cancers, thyroid disease and developmental issues
😫 PFAS pass from mother to child during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so generations are exposed
🤮 Replacement PFAS also pose health risks and lack sufficient safety data
😡 Class action lawsuits are underway demanding companies take responsibility for PFAS pollution and health impacts
😌 Promising technological solutions are in development to break down PFAS chemical bonds
😮 Complete elimination of PFAS is difficult given how embedded they've become across industries

Q & A

What are PFAS chemicals and where do they come from?
-PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are a family of thousands of different synthetic chemicals that share the property of having many strong carbon-fluorine bonds. PFAS originated from the Manhattan Project during World War II that developed the atomic bomb. Companies then started experimenting with these chemicals for commercial use.
Why are PFAS called 'forever chemicals'?
-The carbon-fluorine bonds in PFAS are some of the strongest in organic chemistry. These bonds do not break down easily, so PFAS persist in the environment and human body for a very long time without degrading - hence the name 'forever chemicals'.
How did companies realize the utility of PFAS chemicals?
-A scientist at 3M company accidentally splashed PFAS on his shoes and realized the chemicals made the shoes waterproof and stain resistant. Companies then started using PFAS in consumer products like Teflon and Scotchgard to make them non-stick, stainproof and water resistant.
How did the public first become aware of the dangers of PFAS?
-In the late 1990s, lawyer Rob Bilott took on the case of a farmer whose cows were dying after drinking water contaminated by PFAS chemicals from a nearby DuPont plant. This case exposed the decades-long coverup of health hazards by chemical companies.
What are the known health impacts of PFAS exposure?
-Studies show PFAS exposure can lead to increased cancer risk, thyroid disease, liver damage, ulcerative colitis and pregnancy issues. There is also evidence it impairs immune system function and vaccine efficacy in children.
How widespread is PFAS contamination?
-PFAS have been detected globally from the Artic to Antarctica. Estimates indicate PFAS contaminate the drinking water of 200 million Americans. They are also found in the blood samples of 99% of people tested.
Are there any known methods to eliminate PFAS from the human body?
-Unfortunately no. The only way PFAS leave the human body is through breastfeeding, where mothers offload substantial amounts to nursing infants. Some experimental filtration systems have shown promise for removing PFAS from drinking water.
How are wildlife and ecosystems impacted by PFAS pollution?
-PFAS bioaccumulate up the food chain and are found at high levels in apex predators like polar bears and dolphins. This can negatively impact reproduction, immunity, and survival. Removing top predators can also destabilize ecosystems.
What regulation or legal action has been taken regarding PFAS?
-Many states have set strict drinking water standards for certain PFAS. The US EPA has also lowered its health advisory levels for PFOA and PFOS. Several lawsuits against chemical companies have led to phase-outs and bans of specific compounds like PFOA.
Is completely eliminating PFAS feasible or realistic?
-Eliminating all PFAS is likely not realistic in the near future since they are used in many essential applications like medical devices. But governments can restrict non-essential uses. Consumers may also need to accept some lost convenience to reduce widespread pollution.

Outlines

00:00

😱 The Shocking Origins and Hidden Dangers of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'

PFAS are man-made chemicals that were created for the Manhattan Project during World War II to make atom bombs. After the war, companies started using PFAS to make products stain-proof, waterproof and non-stick without telling the public about the risks. PFAS has now contaminated water supplies and bloodstreams across the globe.

05:00

👕 How PFAS Went From Labs to Scotchgard and Teflon

3M and DuPont discovered PFAS had convenient properties for consumer products. PFAS was used by 3M in Scotchgard and by DuPont in Teflon. Consumers enjoyed stain-resistant and non-stick goods while companies profited, epitomizing the era of "better living through chemistry." But over time, the health hazards of PFAS have become clear.

10:05

😷 High Rates of Rare Cancers Near 3M Plant Raise Alarms

There were troubling cancer rates in Minnesota areas where 3M dumped PFAS for decades. At one contaminated high school, many students and staff had rare cancers. Amara Strande was one local 15-year-old diagnosed with an extremely rare liver cancer linked to PFAS exposure who tragically died before her 21st birthday.

15:05

🤐 3M's Shocking Internal Documents Reveal Years of Cover-Ups

Lawsuits forced 3M to reveal internal documents showing the company knew about PFAS health risks since the 1970s but didn't properly warn the public. 3M removed cancer warning labels from products and told DuPont not to disclose risks to customers while debating internally whether to inform regulators.

20:08

😨 Ubiquitous, Toxic and Building Up Inside Our Bodies

The safety threshold for PFAS levels in drinking water was lowered in 2016 as risks became more clear. Now most Americans drink water containing PFAS chemicals, which are extremely persistent and build up in human blood and organs over time with no known way to remove them.

25:10

📉 PFAS Levels Go Down As Awareness Goes Up in Faroe Islands

The isolated Faroe Islands saw PFAS levels decrease as whale meat consumption went down. But even at low exposures, scientists spotted immune system effects and pre-diabetes linked to higher PFAS that pass from mother to child during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

30:11

😢 A Mother Agonizes Over Unknowingly Passing PFAS Pollution to Her Children

Faroe Islands scientist Elsa Helmsdael limited her breastfeeding duration to 6 months due to PFAS pollution. As studies show PFAS chemicals change DNA, she worries about unknown intergenerational effects transmitted from mothers exposing future generations.

35:12

😡 Dupont and 3M Held Accountable After Decades of Lies

Attorney Rob Bilott exposed DuPont's PFAS pollution and cover-up in the film "Dark Waters." After decades of lies, PFAS manufacturers like 3M and DuPont now face lawsuits amounting to tens of billions. But PFAS litigation and regulation remains ongoing.

40:12

☢️ The Next Generation of PFAS Could Be Just As Toxic

As PFOS and PFOA were phased out due to health concerns, they've been replaced by other similar PFAS chemicals like GenX which studies show cause the same tumors in rats. Some say all PFAS should be regulated as an entire class of toxic chemicals rather than one by one.

45:19

⚖️ One Massive Lawsuit Seeks Justice for All Exposed to PFAS

Attorney Rob Bilott has filed a class action lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers on behalf of the entire U.S. population exposed to these chemicals. With over 14,000 PFAS identified, if companies demand safety studies on each individually before acting, people would be long gone before they're completed.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡PFAS

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are a family of over 14,000 man-made chemicals used to make products resistant to water, grease and stains. PFAS are concerning because they are extremely persistent in the environment and body, and have been linked to health issues like cancer, thyroid disease and weakened immunity. The video explores how PFAS have spread globally without regulation, contaminating water supplies and blood samples from almost every person.

💡environmental contamination

The video examines how PFAS chemicals have extensively contaminated the environment after decades of industrial use and disposal into landfills and watersheds. This pollution has impacted communities like Minnesota, where 3M's headquarters contaminated groundwater. The video suggests PFAS environmental contamination may be linked to increased rates of rare cancers in these areas.

💡corporate secrecy

The video reveals that PFAS manufacturers like 3M and DuPont knew these chemicals were building up in human blood and toxic since the 1970s and 80s based on internal studies. However, companies kept risks secret for decades instead of informing regulators and customers. This scientific cover-up led to massive PFAS contamination that is now being uncovered.

💡blood testing

Since PFAS accumulate in human blood and organs, the video shows how scientists test blood samples to measure exposure levels and study health impacts. Testing has revealed the chemicals are in almost every person, even people far from pollution sources like the Faroe Islands, showing how widespread the contamination is.

💡bioaccumulation

PFAS form very stable compounds that accumulate up the food chain rather than breaking down, which is called bioaccumulation. This means apex predators like whales and humans accumulate higher chemical concentrations. The video examines bioaccumlative transfer of PFAS to humans via consumption of contaminated whale meat in the Faroe Islands.

💡regulation

Due to rising health concerns, there is growing regulation around the most notorious PFAS varieties like PFOA and PFOS, which companies have voluntarily phased out of products in the US. However, they often replace these with similar PFAS chemicals that may have comparable toxicity. Stricter regulation is still needed for the thousands of PFAS varieties.

💡water filters

Because contaminated drinking water is a major route of PFAS exposure, the video looks at specialized filtration systems like Minnesota's Surface Activated Foam Fractionation that can remove up to 98% of certain PFAS from water by trapping them in foam. However, filters cannot clear PFAS from the environment once pollution has occurred.

💡human rights

The video raises the perspective that knowing exposure to hazardous chemicals like PFAS without consent is a violation of human rights to health and self-determination. Preventing further contamination upholds the right to be born without unavoidable pollution.

💡corporate responsibility

The video calls for companies that manufacture PFAS to take accountability for health and ecological impacts resulting from contamination, conduct more toxicity testing, provide warnings to consumers, and invest in safe disposal. Stricter regulation and corporate responsibility is needed to end uncontrolled PFAS pollution.

💡future generations

Since PFAS accumulate in maternal blood and pass to children during pregnancy and breastfeeding, exposure presents an inter-generational problem. The video suggests in utero and childhood PFAS exposures may alter development, metabolism and immunity over the child's lifespan. Contamination now threatens the health of future generations.

Highlights

PFAS originated from the Manhattan Project to build the atomic bomb in WWII

3M and DuPont used PFAS to make products like Scotchgard and Teflon more convenient

PFAS have been called 'forever chemicals' because they don't break down

There are over 14,000 different PFAS chemical structures recognized by the EPA

PFAS contaminate water supplies, accumulate in living things, and stay in our bodies

3M documents showed a scientific cover up about PFAS risks despite internal warnings

Up to 200 million Americans drink water exceeding safe PFAS levels

Childhood cancer rates near 3M's dumping site were 171% higher than outside areas

Amara Strande, a PFAS activist, died from cancer just before her 21st birthday

The EPA says if PFAS can be detected in water, it's a health concern

PFAS chemicals have replaced banned ones, sharing similar toxicities

PFAS in mothers transfer to babies during pregnancy and breastfeeding

PFAS impact wildlife reproduction, immunity, and increase disease susceptibility

Several states have banned non-essential PFAS uses and required proper labeling

Solutions exist to break PFAS bonds, but are far from widespread implementation

Transcripts

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