Here on At Issue we go in depth to examine the local topics that impact you.

Todays issue, the dangerous PFAS contaminating the water on the Spokane West Plains.

So PFAS stands for poly and perfluoroalkyl substances.

It is a group of synthetic manmade chemicals that are that have a carbon fluorine bond.

They have been dubbed forever chemicals because they break down very slowly.

You may find them in stain resistant furniture or carpet.

Waterproof clothing.

Nonstick cookware.

PFAS are also used in aqueous film forming foam called AFFF, which is used to put out fuel fires.

But just like the stuff on the surface, anything you dumped in the ground, the rain comes and it slowly percolates into the ground.

If you think about drinking water, well, all seven of us are drinking water.

We drink water all the time.

We cook with it.

Once they're in the body, they distribute.

They bind to, they bind to, elements in our blood, and they bind tightly to, protein in our liver in our kidneys.

In other tissues, reproductive tissues, even in the bone, long term exposure can cause serious health problems, And so when the EPA came out in, you know, 2016, with their, health advisory, you know, for groundwater, drinking water, the Air Force, began what we call the preliminary investigation and insight investigations.

Well, we have a long ways to go under that enforcement order.

It does provide and give the opportunity to our community to look at that information in a very, scientific, data driven approach and comprehensive, layout of of what we have to do.

And talk with your family.

Talk with your physician, talk with your neighbors.

Talk with your elected officials because it's going to take everybody to get this fixed.