
What Are PFAS?
Clip: Episode 2 | 1m 44sVideo has Closed Captions
Even if you don’t live on Spokane’s West Plains, you have these “forever chemicals” in your home.
Even if you don’t live on Spokane’s West Plains, you likely have these “forever chemicals” in your home. Humans are exposed to forever chemicals largely through our food and drinking water.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
AT ISSUE is a local public television program presented by KSPS PBS

What Are PFAS?
Clip: Episode 2 | 1m 44sVideo has Closed Captions
Even if you don’t live on Spokane’s West Plains, you likely have these “forever chemicals” in your home. Humans are exposed to forever chemicals largely through our food and drinking water.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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At Issue: Poison on the West Plains
PFAS chemicals have left Spokane's West Plains residents without safe drinking water.p fast R a large group of chemicals developed to make things waterproof, stain resistant and nonstick.
They have been dubbed forever chemicals because they break down very slowly.
They also build up in people, wildlife and the environment.
The chemicals have been around since the 1940s.
You may find them in stai resistant furniture or carpet, waterproof clothing, nonstick cookware, food packaging with grease proof or waterproof coatings, cosmetics, paints, sealers and waxes.
p face are also used in aqueous film forming foam called a triple F, which is used to put out fuel fires.
A triple F was used for decades at both Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport.
Even though it's no longer in use, the firefighting foam is the primary suspecte source of pee fast contaminated drinking water in eastern Washington and man other areas across the country.
As a matter of fact, drinking water is a significant amount of a person's total exposur to PFAs during their lifetime.
Long term exposure can cause serious health problems, including high cholesterol reproductive and developmental issues, thyroid problems, and certain cancers.
There are currently more than 9000 different PFAs chemicals, and it's estimate that 98% of people in the U.S.
have the forever chemicals in their bodies, which is why we are learning how to reduce our exposure and why it's important for all of us, not just those who live on Spokane's West Plains.
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AT ISSUE is a local public television program presented by KSPS PBS