Every week seems to bring a new report about where āforever chemicalsā have been found: inĀ soil, drinking water, our bodiesĀ andĀ marine animals. Their proper scientific name is Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). But theyāre more commonly called āforever chemicalsā because, once theyāre in an environment, they almost never break down. These chemicals are harmful in many ways: they kill fish, disruptĀ plant growthĀ and can make humans veryĀ ill.
In aĀ new study, water and chemical researchers Patrick Ssebugere, Ashirafu Miiro and Oghenekaro Nelson Odume examined existing research from various African countries to identify the continentās forever chemical hotspots. They told The Conversation Africa what theyād learned.
