Poison in the water: the town with the worst case of PFAS contamination
4 hours ago
- #environmental-contamination
- #forever-chemicals
- #public-health
- Agneta Bruno recalls childhood memories of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) near her father's air force base in Kallinge, Sweden.
- AFFF, used to fight flammable liquid fires, contains PFAS—'forever chemicals' that persist in the environment and contaminate water supplies.
- In 2013, Ronneby residents learned their award-winning tap water was contaminated with PFAS from firefighting foam used at the Kallinge airbase.
- Blood tests revealed children in Ronneby had PFAS levels 37 times higher than those outside the contaminated zone, the worst recorded case globally.
- Residents formed the PFAS Association to demand accountability, but legal battles against the municipal water provider faced financial and legal hurdles.
- Studies linked PFAS exposure to higher risks of cancer, diabetes, immune disorders, and developmental issues in children, but proving causality remains difficult.
- In 2023, Sweden's Supreme Court ruled that PFAS contamination alone constitutes personal injury, setting a precedent for future cases.
- Despite the victory, many in Ronneby continue to suffer health effects, and new lawsuits seek compensation and healthcare programs.
- Emerging treatments like cholestyramine may reduce PFAS levels, but newer, potentially toxic PFAS variants continue to enter the market.
- The fight against PFAS highlights gaps in chemical regulation and the long-term consequences of industrial pollution on communities.