US Garbage Incinerators Failing to Eliminate 'Forever Chemical' Air Pollution

The Failure of US Garbage Incinerators

The nation's garbage incinerators are largely failing to eliminate Pfas 'forever chemicals' air pollution, and are putting people in largely low-income neighborhoods at risk, public health advocates and independent experts warn.

The Industry's Misleading Claims

A new industry trade group report alleges Minnesota's incinerators are reducing their forever chemical emissions by 99.6%. However, experts say the report is full of bad assumptions, incomplete data, and misleading language.

The Health Risks of Pfas Pollution

Pfas are a class of at least 16,000 compounds that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease, and a range of other serious health problems. They are dubbed 'forever chemicals' because they do not naturally break down in the environment.

The Impact on Low-Income Neighborhoods

The incinerators are often located in low-income neighborhoods, putting vulnerable populations at risk. 'This trash becomes the problem of the poor and marginalized to deal with in their bodies,' said Nazir Khan, executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table.

The Need for Stricter Regulations

Experts say that stricter regulations are needed to address the issue of Pfas pollution. 'I'm not aware of any industrial-scale commercial incinerator that solves this problem,' said Michael Youhana, an attorney with the non-profit Earthjustice.