Sierra Club presents PFAS contamination concerns
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) –This month’s Sierra Club presentation brought an urgent environmental concern to the forefront: the potential contamination of local food and water sources by PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”
PFAS, a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in everyday products, is increasingly linked to negative health effects.
Items like nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, pizza boxes, and even carpet manufacturing materials are common sources of these chemicals, which have earned their nickname because of their resistance to breaking down in the environment or the human body.
Nick Jackson, a Georgia-based lawyer, highlighted the pervasive presence of PFAS in daily life.
“Maybe I should have a filtration system,” Jackson said. “Maybe I should think twice about drinking this bottle of water that might contain PFAS or eating from a pizza box that has it.”
The Sierra Club’s Cherokee Group Chairperson, Dave Hoot, acknowledged his own potential exposure.
“I know I’ve been exposed to PFAS. I’ve used nonstick cookware in the past and been near firefighting foam, even as a bystander,” he shared.
Experts warn that the presence of these chemicals, especially in regions like Northwest Georgia where PFAS were heavily used in carpet manufacturing, poses a growing public health risk.
Jackson elaborated on the issue, citing examples of PFAS-containing products like Teflon, Scotchgard, and industrial materials, which have been particularly prevalent in the area.
The Sierra Club and the PFAS Georgia team encouraged local residents to raise their voices and demand action against these harmful chemicals.
“Something needs to be done about them right now,” one advocate emphasized. “We have to become that force for change in Chattanooga.”
As concerns mount over PFAS exposure, the message is clear: informed communities must take the lead in pushing for regulatory measures to address and mitigate this growing threat.
