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Public health advocates are calling for federal and state policymakers to protect Georgia’s water after a new report from Environment Georgia concluded that industrial facilities released more than 5 million pounds of toxic chemicals into Georgia’s waterways in 2020, ranking the state in 13th place nationwide.
Georgia was also ranked among the top 10 states with the highest pollution loads for chemicals linked to cancer, developmental health risks, and reproductive health risks.
In addition to these troubling issues, public health advocates also warn that microplastics and PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) in water pose a serious risk, although these substances remain under-researched.
– Jacqueline Gualtieri, The Georgia 100