Virginia high schooler Hera Lu-Yang set out in the spring to determine how safe drinking water is in Northern Virginia by conducting tests in numerous localities, including Alexandria, for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, also called PFAS.
These forever chemicals come from a range of industrial products like Teflon, pesticides and fire extinguishing foam. Exposure may cause serious health issues such as prostate, kidney and testicular cancers, as well as decreased fertility and immune system strength, according to peer-reviewed scientific studies accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Lu-Yang’s testing revealed that Alexandria’s water contains a high level of PFAS chemicals – almost three times that of neighboring localities. Her findings are in direct conflict with the most recent water quality reports from Alexandria’s water supplier, Virginia American Water…