Residents demand answers after alarming revelation about their drinking water: 'Who is responsible?'
In April 2024, Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection discovered dangerously high levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals, in groundwater and wells at a mobile home park in Columbia County. The contamination was likely a result of sewage sludge that was spread on agricultural fields in the 1980s.
Residents told WVIA Radio that they did not hear the news until six months later, and many expressed concern during a public hearing.
"My six-year-old daughter asked me yesterday, 'Mommy, who put bad chemicals in our water?' … So, on behalf of my six-year-old … who is responsible," asked Janine Hall, whose water tested well above safe drinking standards, according to the news outlet.
The broader categorization of "PFAS" describes a group of thousands of human-made chemicals that are used in products like non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, and firefighting foams. Nicknamed "forever chemicals" because of their resistance to breaking down, they have infiltrated water supplies across the country.
For instance, testing of private wells in Cadillac, Michigan, found PFAS in the water supply, concerning local residents. And for good reason. PFAS have been linked to a range of health concerns, including cancer, poor immunity, and reproductive disorders. One study even estimated that more than 20% of Americans may be exposed to PFAS-laced tap water.
Back in Pennsylvania, Hall's husband Peter had his blood tested by a local doctor, and found it contained levels of PFAS at 280 parts per trillion. WVIA reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers some types of PFAS to be unsafe at levels above four parts per trillion.
Other residents said they are worried that some of their health issues — problems like osteoarthritis, anemia, miscarriage, and cancer — may have been caused or exacerbated by PFAS contamination, according to WVIA.
Pennsylvania's DEP plans to install filtration systems in at least 22 homes in Columbia County, per WVIA. They will also be doing soil sampling to determine possible sources. Pennsylvania started regulating PFAS in 2023, according to the news outlet.
Meanwhile, other states have enacted legislation that takes aim at PFAS. For instance, New Hampshire lawmakers recently banned ski, board, and boat waxes containing these chemicals.
How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water?
Never
Sometimes
Often
Always
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
The general thinking goes that if using such chemicals would never have been approved in the first place with the knowledge we have now of the dangers, they should not continue to be approved moving forward either.
Scientists are also working on ways to break these chemicals down before they have a chance to harm humans or the environment. For instance, researchers at the University of Illinois found a way to remove the full spectrum of PFAS from water in a single process, and scientists at the University of Rochester are doing similar work.
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
44 minutes ago
- Business Wire
ImmunityBio Announces Phase 2 Study of ANKTIVA ® in Patients with Long COVID
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ImmunityBio, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBRX), a leading immunotherapy company, today announced the opening of a new Phase 2 study to assess the BioShield™ platform, anchored by ANKTIVA ® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln), in patients with long COVID. An estimated one in five Americans with a previous COVID-19 infection has long COVID, which is comprised of a broad range of symptoms that can substantially impact a patient's quality of life. Long COVID remains a significant public health challenge with no currently available established therapies. The new study, called COVID-4.019-Long, further expands the company's clinical research efforts to assess ANKTIVA's potential beyond cancer or cancer-related diseases. Currently, ANKTIVA is being evaluated alone and with other agents in multiple studies for different forms of bladder cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Lynch syndrome, ovarian cancer and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) associated tumors. ANKTIVA is also being studied in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and lymphopenia. The primary objective of the exploratory, single-arm study (NCT0712372 7) is to evaluate the safety of ANKTIVA, injected under the skin (subcutaneously), in participants with long COVID. The secondary objective is to assess the effect of ANKTIVA on absolute lymphocyte count. Exploratory objectives include evaluation of ANKTIVA's ability to improve post-COVID natural killer (NK) cell and CD8+ T cell counts, and assessment of the immunological function of NK cells and CD8+ T cells. 'We are excited to study ANKTIVA for the treatment of long COVID, a substantial public health concern,' said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Founder, Executive Chairman and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ImmunityBio. 'Early in the pandemic, the common assumption was SARS-CoV-2 would prove to be a transient infection, as is the case with coronaviruses in general. But we now know viral nucleic acid and proteins can be in the gut mucosa months after infection. As such, an antiviral strategy looks insufficient to treat or cure long COVID. Based on clinical insights to date, we believe ANKTIVA may be a new therapeutic option for this chronic and potentially disabling condition by enhancing immune function, facilitating viral clearance, and addressing underlying contributions to long COVID.' The study, which is being conducted by ImmunityBio and aims to recruit up to 40 participants who meet the long COVID criteria, as established by the World Health Organization (WHO), is now accepting patients for initial screening to determine study eligibility. The safety and tolerability of ANKTIVA for long COVID is also being assessed in a separate Phase 2 study conducted at the University of California – San Francisco. Both studies are supported by ImmunityBio. To learn more, visit ANKTIVA is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for the treatment of patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS), with or without papillary tumors. About Long COVID Long COVID is a serious illness that can cause chronic health conditions requiring comprehensive care. It may also lead to disability. 2 Long COVID impacts approximately 1 in 5 Americans adults who had a previous COVID-19 infection. 1 It can include a wide range of ongoing symptoms and conditions that can last weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 illness. 1 Some of the common among the more than 200 identified symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, coughing, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and change in smell or taste. 3 Anyone who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19, can experience Long COVID, including children. 1 Long COVID remains a significant public health challenge with no currently available established treatments. About ANKTIVA ® (nogapendekin alfa inbakicept-pmln) The cytokine interleukin-15 (IL-15) plays a crucial role in the immune system by affecting the development, maintenance, and function of key immune cells—NK and CD8+ killer T cells—that are involved in killing cancer cells. By activating NK cells, ANKTIVA® overcomes the tumor escape phase of clones resistant to T cells and restores memory T cell activity with resultant prolonged duration of complete response. A key component in the company's BioShield platform, ANKTIVA is a first-in-class IL-15 agonist IgG1 fusion complex, consisting of an IL-15 mutant (IL-15N72D) fused with an IL-15 receptor alpha, which binds with high affinity to IL-15 receptors on NK, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. This fusion complex of ANKTIVA® mimics the natural biological properties of the membrane-bound IL-15 receptor alpha, delivering IL-15 by dendritic cells and driving the activation and proliferation of NK cells with the generation of memory killer T cells that have retained immune memory against these tumor clones. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INDICATION AND USAGE: ANKTIVA® is an interleukin-15 (IL-15) receptor agonist indicated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for the treatment of adult patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS: Risk of Metastatic Bladder Cancer with Delayed Cystectomy. Delaying cystectomy can lead to the development of muscle-invasive or metastatic bladder cancer, which can be lethal. If patients with CIS do not have a complete response to treatment after a second induction course of ANKTIVA® with BCG, reconsider cystectomy. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: For Intravesical Use Only. Do not administer by subcutaneous or intravenous routes. Please see the complete Prescribing Information for ANKTIVA ® at References: Robertson MM, Qasmieh SA, Kulkarni SG, et al. The Epidemiology of Long Coronavirus Disease in US Adults. Clin Infect Dis. May 3 2023;76(9):1636-1645. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Long COVID Basics. July 2025. Available at U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Long COVID Signs and Symptoms. July 2025. Available at About ImmunityBio ImmunityBio is a vertically-integrated commercial stage biotechnology company developing next-generation therapies that bolster the natural immune system to defeat cancers and infectious diseases. The Company's range of immunotherapy and cell therapy platforms, alone and together, act to drive and sustain an immune response with the goal of creating durable and safe protection against disease. Designated an FDA Breakthrough Therapy, ANKTIVA is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer CIS that activates NK cells, T cells, and memory T cells for a long-duration response. The Company is applying its science and platforms to treating cancers, including the development of potential cancer vaccines, as well as developing immunotherapies and cell therapies that we believe sharply reduce or eliminate the need for standard high-dose chemotherapy. These platforms and their associated product candidates are designed to be more effective, accessible, and easily administered than current standards of care in oncology and infectious diseases. For more information, visit (Founder's Vision) and connect with us on X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements regarding potential implications to be drawn from preliminary clinical study results, clinical trial enrollment, timing, data and potential results to be drawn therefrom, anticipated components of ImmunityBio's CancerBioShield™ platform, the potential health conditions associated with Long COVID, potential patient populations and implications thereof, the development of therapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases, potential benefits to patients, potential treatment outcomes for patients, the described mechanism of action and results and contributions therefrom, potential future uses and applications of ANKTIVA alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents across multiple tumor types and indications and for potential applications beyond oncology, potential regulatory pathways and the regulatory review process and timing thereof, the application of the Company's science and platforms to treat cancers or develop cancer vaccines, immunotherapies and cell therapies that have the potential to change the paradigm in cancer care, and ImmunityBio's approved product and investigational agents as compared to existing treatment options, among others. Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are considered forward-looking statements, which are usually identified by the use of words such as 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'continues,' 'goal,' 'could,' 'estimates,' 'scheduled,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'may,' 'plans,' 'potential,' 'predicts,' 'indicate,' 'projects,' 'is,' 'seeks,' 'should,' 'will,' 'strategy,' and variations of such words or similar expressions. Statements of past performance, efforts, or results of our preclinical and clinical trials, about which inferences or assumptions may be made, can also be forward-looking statements and are not indicative of future performance or results. Forward-looking statements are neither forecasts, promises nor guarantees, and are based on the current beliefs of ImmunityBio's management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to ImmunityBio. Such information may be limited or incomplete, and ImmunityBio's statements should not be read to indicate that it has conducted a thorough inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. Such statements reflect the current views of ImmunityBio with respect to future events and are subject to known and unknown risks, including business, regulatory, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties, contingencies and assumptions about ImmunityBio, including, without limitation, (i) risks and uncertainties regarding participation and enrollment and potential results from the clinical trial described herein, (ii) whether clinical trials will result in registrational pathways, (iii) whether clinical trial data will be accepted by regulatory agencies, (iv) the ability of ImmunityBio to fund its ongoing and anticipated clinical trials, (v) the ability of ImmunityBio to continue its planned preclinical and clinical development of its development programs through itself and/or its investigators, and the timing and success of any such continued preclinical and clinical development, patient enrollment and planned regulatory submissions, (vi) potential delays in product availability and regulatory approvals, (vii) ImmunityBio's ability to retain and hire key personnel, (viii) ImmunityBio's ability to obtain additional financing to fund its operations and complete the development and commercialization of its various product candidates, (ix) potential product shortages or manufacturing disruptions that may impact the availability and timing of product, (x) ImmunityBio's ability to successfully commercialize its approved product and product candidates, (xi) ImmunityBio's ability to scale its manufacturing and commercial supply operations for its approved product and future approved products, and (xii) ImmunityBio's ability to obtain, maintain, protect, and enforce patent protection and other proprietary rights for its product candidates and technologies. More details about these and other risks that may impact ImmunityBio's business are described under the heading 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 3, 2025, and the Company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 5, 2025, and in subsequent filings made by ImmunityBio with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at ImmunityBio cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ImmunityBio does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement or other information in this press release, except to the extent required by law.
NBC News
an hour ago
- NBC News
U.S. pediatricians' new COVID-19 shot recommendations differ from CDC advice
For the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations. The group's new COVID-19 recommendations — released Tuesday — come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing. This isn't going to help, acknowledged Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious disease committee. 'It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them,' he added. The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, the AAP said. That differs from guidance established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which doesn't recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians. Children ages 6 months to 2 years are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and it was important that recommendations continue to emphasize the need for them to get vaccinated, said Campbell, a University of Maryland infectious diseases expert. Vaccinations also are recommended for older children who have chronic lung diseases or other conditions that put them at higher risk for severe disease, the AAP said. The 95-year-old Itasca, Illinois-based organization has issued vaccination recommendations for children since the 1930s. In 1995, it synced its advice with recommendations made by the federal government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been a few small differences between AAP and CDC recommendations since then. For example, the AAP has advised that children get HPV vaccinations starting at age 9; the CDC says that's OK but has emphasized vaccinations at ages 11 and 12. But in 30 years, this is the first time the recommendations have differed 'in a significant or substantial way,' Campbell said. Until recently, the CDC — following recommendations by infectious disease experts — has been urging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older. But in May, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. A few days later, the CDC issued language that healthy children may get the shots, but that there was no longer a 'should' recommendation. The idea that healthy older kids may be able to skip COVID-19 boosters has been brewing for some time among public health experts. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, experts have increasingly discussed the possibility of focusing vaccination efforts on people 65 and older — who are among those most as risk for death and hospitalization. A CDC expert panel in June was set to make recommendations about the fall shots. Among the options the panel was considering was whether suggest shots for high-risk groups but still giving lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated. But Kennedy bypassed the group, and also decided to dismiss the 17-member panel and appoint his own, smaller panel, that included vaccine skeptics. Kennedy also later excluded the AAP, the American Medical Association and other top medical organizations from working with the advisers to establish vaccination recommendations. Kennedy's new vaccine panel has yet to vote on COVID-19 shot recommendations. The panel did endorse continuing to recommend fall flu vaccinations, but also made a decision that led to another notable difference with the AAP. The new advisory panel voted that people should only get flu vaccines that are packaged as single doses and do not contain the preservative thimerosal. The AAP said there is no evidence of harm from the preservative, and recommended doctors use any licensed flu vaccine product that's appropriate for the patient.
2 hours ago
US pediatricians' new COVID-19 shot recommendations differ from CDC advice
NEW YORK -- For the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations. The group's new COVID-19 recommendations — released Tuesday — come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing. This isn't going to help, acknowledged Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious disease committee. 'It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them,' he added. The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, the AAP said. That differs from guidance established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which doesn't recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians. Children ages 6 months to 2 years are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and it was important that recommendations continue to emphasize the need for them to get vaccinated, said Campbell, a University of Maryland infectious diseases expert. Vaccinations also are recommended for older children who have chronic lung diseases or other conditions that put them at higher risk for severe disease, the AAP said. The 95-year-old Itasca, Illinois-based organization has issued vaccination recommendations for children since the 1930s. In 1995, it synced its advice with recommendations made by the federal government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been a few small differences between AAP and CDC recommendations since then. For example, the AAP has advised that children get HPV vaccinations starting at age 9; the CDC says that's OK but has emphasized vaccinations at ages 11 and 12. But in 30 years, this is the first time the recommendations have differed 'in a significant or substantial way,' Campbell said. Until recently, the CDC — following recommendations by infectious disease experts — has been urging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older. But in May, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. A few days later, the CDC issued language that healthy children may get the shots, but that there was no longer a 'should' recommendation. The idea that healthy older kids may be able to skip COVID-19 boosters has been brewing for some time among public health experts. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, experts have increasingly discussed the possibility of focusing vaccination efforts on people 65 and older — who are among those most as risk for death and hospitalization. A CDC expert panel in June was set to make recommendations about the fall shots. Among the options the panel was considering was whether suggest shots for high-risk groups but still giving lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated. But Kennedy bypassed the group, and also decided to dismiss the 17-member panel and appoint his own, smaller panel, that included vaccine skeptics. Kennedy also later excluded the AAP, the American Medical Association and other top medical organizations from working with the advisers to establish vaccination recommendations. Kennedy's new vaccine panel has yet to vote on COVID-19 shot recommendations. The panel did endorse continuing to recommend fall flu vaccinations, but also made a decision that led to another notable difference with the AAP. The new advisory panel voted that people should only get flu vaccines that are packaged as single doses and do not contain the preservative thimerosal. The AAP said there is no evidence of harm from the preservative, and recommended doctors use any licensed flu vaccine product that's appropriate for the patient. ___
