Space Traveling Chemicals Fall with Rain in Miami

You thought it was just water? Think again! Scientists in Miami have discovered that it’s raining something else too: chemicals that just won’t go away. They are called PFAS, or 'forever chemicals', because they stick around in the environment for a long time. These chemicals have been in use since the 1940s, and you can find them in lots of everyday things, like paint, makeup, and even food packaging. Their job is to make stuff fire, water, and grease-resistant. But scientists are now finding out that these chemicals might have a dark side — they might cause harm to our health, and maybe even cause cancer. Researchers from Florida International University were not surprised to find PFAS in their city's rainwater. They already knew these chemicals were in drinking water and seafood. Their study found 21 types of PFAS, including some that are no longer used. The most common type comes from things like non-stick cookware, stain-resistant surfaces, and firefighting foams. Some of these chemicals come from factories nearby, but others traveled from far away. The wind brings them to Miami, and that's how they end up in the rain. Interestingly, the amount of PFAS in the rainwater changed with the seasons. This happened because of wind patterns that bring air from the North down to Miami. These winds carry the chemicals and drop them like rain. Scientists are worried about these chemicals because they don't just stay in one place. They move around with the wind and water, getting into different parts of the environment and potentially harming local animals, like dolphins and manatees that live in Biscayne Bay. To better understand how these chemicals travel, scientists at FIU are looking at how many PFAS can fit onto tiny nanoparticles, which are way smaller than a human hair. They want everyone to know that what happens in one place can affect everywhere else in the world. So, it's important to think about how to stop these chemicals from spreading everywhere.