How GA carpet empire contaminated Alabama drinking water
Environmental Racism and PFAS Exposure: A Gadsden Perspective
In Gadsden, Alabama, community voices are amplifying concerns over PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” linked to various health issues. Zackery, a local figure, emphasizes the challenges of identifying the myriad factors affecting health, asserting, “If you’re sick, you’re sick, and the water didn’t help you.” Over the past two decades, research has increasingly highlighted the connection between PFAS exposure and health problems, yet the complexity of studying these chemicals poses challenges for organizations like the EPA.
Zackery frames the presence of PFAS in Gadsden as part of a broader issue of environmental racism, where marginalized communities face disproportionate health risks. “Sacrifice a few Black folks and a few poor white folks,” he remarks, reflecting on societal indifference towards low-income, poorly educated populations. Studies support his observations, indicating that minority communities often encounter higher levels of PFAS in their drinking water.
Jahred Liddie, a PhD student at Harvard, states that those already burdened by socio-economic challenges are more likely to face these environmental hazards. The community is rallying for change, as highlighted by Brenda Hampton, a water activist who has called for collective action. “It’s going to take people waking up in Gadsden,” she insists. With voices like Zackery’s and Hampton’s gaining momentum, the push for clean water and justice for affected residents is gaining traction.
Read the complete article here: https://www.postandcourier.com/news/local_state_news/carpet-industry-pfas-gadsden-alabama-water-contamination/article_8a4ab810-de29-4868-8d55-2bbdf2acdd31.html
