They have been found in food, drinking water, soil and even the human body.
But now scientists have detected a toxic group of chemicals known as PFAS in the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest.
Researchers at Coventry University say they have detected PFAS in the air around Amazonian trees, which they may be fatally absorbing.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been called “forever chemicals” because they are designed not to break down in the environment and can be inhaled by humans.
Studies have linked PFAS to infertility, behavioral problems, birth defects, high cholesterol levels, and even several types of cancer, including kidney, testicular, and ovarian cancer.
For the first time, harmful chemicals that last so long they are known as “forever chemicals” have been found in the atmosphere of the Amazon rainforest, scientists report.
The new study was led by Dr Ivan Kourtchev from Coventry University’s Agroecology, Water and Resilience Research Centre.
He described as “shocking” the appearance of “eternal chemicals” in the atmosphere over the pristine Amazon rainforest.
But Dr. Kourtchev and his colleagues are still working to identify the exact health risk posed by rainforest plants.
“The Amazon is a place of unique vegetation and wildlife, so these PFAS may have an impact in that regard,” Dr. Kourtchev said.
“In sensitive ecosystems with rare or endangered species, such disturbances can have devastating effects on biodiversity and species survival.”
It is estimated that more than 30 million people live in the Amazon, who would also be affected by inhalation of PFAS.
“When our body mistakes this chemical for our hormones, we can become infertile, and if specific animals or vegetation are affected, that could stop them from reproducing,” Dr. Kourtchev said.
For the study, air samples were collected at the top of the 1,066-foot-tall Amazon Tall Tower Observatory, which is about the same height as the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Air samples were taken from the Amazon Tall Tower Observatory (pictured) in the Brazilian jungle
The tower, roughly the same height as Paris’s most famous landmark, sits deep in the Amazon rainforest.
The Amazon Tall Tower Observatory is located in the middle of the rainforest, about 93 miles (150 kilometers) from Manaus, one of the largest cities in Brazil.
The samples were then returned to Coventry University, where Dr Kourtchev analyzed them using a sensitive technique he previously developed.
“We collected samples right at the top of the tower and also at the level of the treetops, about 42 meters (137 feet),” the academic said.
‘What surprised us was that we saw PFAS; We weren’t expecting it and we also saw more at the top of the tower.
‘If PFAS were emitted locally, they would have to be found further down the tower.
‘This means that the PFAS were transported over long distances and were brought from somewhere.
“It was very disconcerting for us.”
PFAS have been found in the blood of humans and wild animals in remote areas of the world, as well as in freshwater lakes that supply drinking water.
But now Dr. Kourtchev and his international colleagues hope their research can help uncover how PFAS are transported.
“This research presents the first measurements of PFAS in the atmosphere of the Amazon rainforest,” they state in their article, published in Total Environmental Science.
PFAS chemicals can contaminate drinking water, and an estimated 110 million Americans (one in three) may consume drinking water contaminated with these chemicals.
“This study provides valuable information on the long-range transport of the anthropogenic ‘forever chemical’ to a remote natural ecosystem and should raise awareness of potential environmental implications.”
PFAS are used to make items such as non-stick pans, food packaging including pizza boxes and popcorn bags, coatings on paper, and adhesives.
They have been linked to adverse health effects and, once inhaled, can remain inside our bodies for years.
This means they cause problems including infertility and developmental problems, especially in pregnant women and their babies.
