A report found nearly 1 million incarcerated people, including about 13,000 juveniles, are likely drinking water filled with forever chemicals.
U.S. water utilities will soon be required to test for and limit the"forever chemicals" in their drinking supply, but for one already vulnerable population — the nation's incarcerated people — mitigating the damage in the meantime could be especially difficult.
However, since information gaps already exist for PFAS contamination — and disproportionately for juvenile carceral facilities and others near likely contaminated sources, per the report — the researchers say the amount of incarcerated people drinking PFAS is likely much higher. In recent years, the substances have become a top concern for the Environmental Protection Agency, which the Biden administration tasked Wednesday with finalizing limits water suppliers must follow to reduce PFAS in their supply. They generally have a couple of years to test for exceeding limits, and if they're over, the utilities have a few more years to install treatment systems.
Add that on top of PFAS contamination and the risk of serious health effects for incarcerated people — who are disproportionately of minority groups — becomes exacerbated, especially as they can't find alternative drinking water sources or treatment devices to protect themselves.
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