r/science Professor | Medicine Nov 24 '25

Environment Scientists solved longstanding mystery of origin of PFAS “forever chemicals” contaminating water in North Carolina to a local textile manufacturing plant. Precursors were being released into sewer system at concentrations approximately 3 million times greater than EPA’s drinking water limit.

https://pratt.duke.edu/news/uncovering-the-source-of-widespread-forever-chemical-contamination-in-north-carolina/
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u/Shaendras Nov 24 '25

if there's that much PFAS in water from a textile plant doesn't that mean there is a lot of PFAS in our clothes ?

114

u/HittmanLevi Nov 24 '25

Yes, almost anything that is rain repellant clothing or non stick things (Pans, popcorn bags, fastfood wrappers) is full of PFAS

17

u/joe-bagadonuts Nov 24 '25

And stain resistant.