☀️ Australian researchers at the University of Adelaide have crafted a sunlight-activated material that tackles toxic 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) in water, converting them into harmless fluoride. It's a low-energy win-win for our health and the planet! 🌏💧
PFAS are super-stubborn synthetic chemicals found in everyday items like non-stick cookware, firefighting foams, and water-repellent fabrics. They resist breakdown, accumulate in the environment and our bodies, and have been linked to cancer, infertility, and developmental disorders.
More than 85% of Australians carry PFAS in their blood. With new drinking water guidelines slashing safe PFAS limits to mere nanograms per liter, there's real urgency to find better cleanup methods.
Enter Cameron Shearer and the team from the University of Adelaide. Their breakthrough material, powered by sunlight, breaks PFAS down into fluoride – a harmless mineral. This game-changing approach uses natural energy and low cost, making it a potential hero in the fight against pollution.
'PFAS contamination continues to pose a global health risk, and this research represents a critical step toward safer communities and cleaner ecosystems,' says Cameron Shearer. With more testing and scale-up, sunlight could soon be our ally in zapping toxic chemicals from water.
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Researchers use sunlight to turn 'forever chemicals' into fluoride
cgtn.com
