Pollution Reduction
Known pollutants as well as emerging pollutants of concern need to be reduced in the environment before our air, water, and land become prohibitively contaminated. Emerging pollutants are those chemicals that have been detected in environmental monitoring that may cause unexpected ecological or health impacts and typically are not regulated under current environmental laws. Significant emerging pollutants of concern include pharmaceuticals and personal care products as well as microplastics.
PFAS
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as a critical environmental and health concern in recent years. These synthetic chemicals, widely used in countless everyday products, have gained notoriety due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PFAS CINCINNATI HEALTH DEPARTMENT PFAS GUIDE PFAS COUNCIL REPORT
Microplastics
Cincinnati is working to understand emerging pollutants like microplastics that could be a concern for human, animal, and environmental health. Microplastics are defined as small plastic particles between 5 mm and 100 um. While some plastics are manufactured to be very small, others degrade over time until they are microscopic. Currently, there are no mandated microplastic regulations, but there are local initiatives focused on understanding microplastics in our water, soil, and air, as well as various organizations dedicated to decreasing plastic use, litter prevention and cleanup, and ecosystem protection.