A recent investigation by scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder has uncovered an unexpected revelation of airborne toxins in the atmosphere of the United States. The findings, published in ACS Environmental Au, represent the inaugural identification of Medium Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (MCCPs) in the air within the Western Hemisphere. MCCPs are hazardous organic pollutants commonly linked to wastewater. These toxins can be emitted into the atmosphere during wastewater treatment processes or via the application of biosolid fertilizers in agricultural practices.
The researchers established their study in proximity to fields utilizing biosolid fertilizers, hypothesizing this could be the source of the airborne MCCPs. While they cannot concretely ascertain the origin, they postulate that the application of “sewage sludges” to fields might release these toxins into the atmosphere. This revelation heightens concerns regarding the potential health risks posed by MCCPs, especially since their smaller variants, Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs), are already subjected to regulation due to their detrimental nature and persistence within the ecosystem.
The study proposes that the regulation of SCCPs might have inadvertently led to increased levels of MCCPs in the environment, as industries may have switched from one to the other. The researchers executed 24-hour air sampling near the fields over a month, noting patterns that were distinct from common chemical substances, which facilitated the identification of chlorinated paraffins. This outcome highlights the necessity for additional research and possible regulatory measures for MCCPs to safeguard public health and the ecosystem.
