Confronting local pollution is a challenging task to say the least. After all, no one wants to consider that their home may be polluted. It’s much easier to believe that if you can’t see pollution around you, it must not exist, right? Unfortunately, this does not hinder the pressing reality pollution creates — and for S.C. citizens, the reality of pollution is indeed pressing.
In December of 2022, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reported the presence of forever-chemical pollution in virtually every body of water in S.C., the most substantial being the presence of poly-fluoroalkyl chemicals (PFA). Though not all bodies of water retained significant PFA levels, the worst cases held chemical amounts over 170 times higher than the national health advisory limit. Now — less than a year later — these chemicals have transferred from creeks and lakes and permeated some of S.C.’s marine life.
A September investigation by DHEC uncovered the presence of PFAs in the marine life of 18 waterways in S.C., including popular recreational fishing sites like Lake Greenwood and Lake Marion. Though the origin of the pollution has yet to be confirmed, farm fields fertilized with sewer sludge, industrial and wastewater plants, and military bases are considered potential sources. Freshwater fish such as warmouth, bluegill, largemouth bass, spotted sunfish, and redear sunfish consistently showed signs of PFA contamination. However, blue crabs and oysters in the Ashley and Dawho Rivers near Charleston also exhibited chemical traces.
Dubbed “forever chemicals” due to their inability to deteriorate naturally, PFAs are found in commonplace industrial and consumer products such as cookware and plastic packaging. Globally, over 600 species are at risk of experiencing harm from PFAs. Side effects of PFA exposure in the wild include suppressed immunity, liver damage, developmental and reproductive issues, endocrine system disruptions, gut/bowel diseases, and more. When ingested by humans, some PFAs build up instead of breaking down, generating a laundry list of harmful effects. Even low doses of PFA exposure are linked to hormone issues, including cancer, liver and thyroid problems, reproductive problems, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, low birth weight, and increased risk of birth defects, among others. Furthermore, PFA exposure is linked to changes in cholesterol levels and puberty timing in teens.
Although neighboring states have issued some marine consumption guidelines, DHEC is still gathering evidence of PFA pollution to issue formal advisories in South Carolina. Until then, DHEC recommends that those looking to reduce PFA exposure follow these safety guidelines and limit their consumption of freshwater fish, particularly the largemouth bass, black crappie, and sunfish species.