âForever chemicalsâ used in water-repellant outdoor gear have been found in snow from the top of Mount Everest.
Kimberley Miner says these human-made per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) â which have been linked to birth defects, high cholesterol and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer â could eventually pose a risk for trekkers, climbers and residents who drink the meltwater.
Miner, a research assistant professor at the University of Maine Climate Change Institute, is lead author of the paper âDeposition of PFAS âforever chemicalsâ on Mt. Everest,â published Dec. 17 in the online journal Science of the Total Environment.
Other recent studies suggest that exposure to high levels of PFAS may suppress peoplesâ immune systems and increase their risk of getting COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Both Democrats and Republicans support a major infusion of funding into rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. We’re not just talking about roads, bridges and highways airports, the smart grid, water systems, electricity grids and school construction could all see a boost under a federal infrastructure package.
The injection of cash couldn’t come at a better time. In the short term, the pandemic may have prompted an acceleration of infrastructure projects, as decreased traffic gave transportation authorities an opportunity to work on roads, highways and bridges with minimal impact. In the long term, though, the public sector is facing declining revenues and budget cuts as a result of the economic downturn. By some estimates, more than $9.6 billion worth of infrastructure projects have been delayed or canceled during the pandemic.