PFAS, the Forever Chemicals
We are continually reminded to drink more water by members of the medical profession and other health practitioners, for largely very obvious reasons. But, at the same time, there seems to be an increasing undercurrent of more sinister news relating to potentially harmful and even potentially toxic chemicals in tainted water supplies. It can feel increasingly difficult to know where to turn, even in developed nations at times, either for safe drinking water, or the correct information to understand the risks of a polluted supply.
Over the last few years, it is possible that you have heard about ‘PFAS’ and its dangers both to humans and biodiversity more broadly. In this paper, Thematics AM brings some perspective on this issue, starting with a description of what PFAS is, its use, its impact on our health, existing treatment solutions, and the potential investment opportunities that are arising from an increasingly urgent need to find and treat this family of ‘forever’ substances.
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THEMATICS ASSET MANAGEMENT - An affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers. A French SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) with a share capital of €191 440. RCS Paris: 843 939 992. Regulated by the AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers), under no GP 19000027. 20, rue des Capucines 75002 Paris, France.
Over the last few years, it is possible that you have heard about ‘PFAS’ and its dangers both to humans and biodiversity more broadly. In this paper, Thematics AM brings some perspective on this issue, starting with a description of what PFAS is, its use, its impact on our health, existing treatment solutions, and the potential investment opportunities that are arising from an increasingly urgent need to find and treat this family of ‘forever’ substances.
Highlights
- PFAS are very persistent in the environment and in the human body. They can take up to 1000 years to break down in nature - longer even than the decomposition of a plastic bottle.
- There is a range of methods to remove PFAS and additional treatment technologies are being developed, but so far none are perfect.
- While new regulations on these chemicals will undoubtedly have a negative impact on some firms, they will create new markets and opportunities for companies that provide solutions and technologies to deal with these chemicals.
Resources
THEMATICS ASSET MANAGEMENT - An affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers. A French SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) with a share capital of €191 440. RCS Paris: 843 939 992. Regulated by the AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers), under no GP 19000027. 20, rue des Capucines 75002 Paris, France.
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