A report from Emory University scientists shows some people in the Coastal Georgia city have been exposed to toxic chemicals left over from Superfund sites.

Plastic particles are found in our organs, blood and even semen. But do they stay in us forever? What damage are they doing? Here are six questions scientists are trying to answer.

Water utilities across the country will have to comply with EPA limits on "forever chemicals" in drinking water by 2029. Orange County, Calif., got a head start.

Chemical companies and water utilities are challenging the EPA’s recent rule putting limits on six PFAS chemicals in drinking water.

The Georgia Water Coalition released its annual "Dirty Dozen" report highlighting the issues threatening the health of Georgia's waterways. This year's dozen includes rivers, creeks, aquifers, streams and swamps.

Even before EPA issued the first ever drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals last month, state and local water officials in Coastal Georgia were monitoring for and making plans to address these “forever chemicals.”

Why is a famous elementary particle in the news? Where is Chechnya and what did it ban? Which prince is Andrew again? If you know these things, you'll get at least a 3 out of 11.

Georgia will receive $25 million dollars to share with select public water utilities to help them test and begin treating drinking water with dangerous forever chemicals. 

The US Postal Service will be the subject of a U.S. Senate Homeland Security hearing Tuesday next week. 

Another incarcerated man has died at the Fulton County Jail.

Wednesday the Environmental Protection Agency announced new drinking water standards to limit people's exposure to some PFAS chemicals. For decades, PFAS have been used to waterproof and stain-proof a variety of consumer products. These "forever chemicals" in a host of products — everything from raincoats and the Teflon of nonstick pans to makeup to furniture and firefighting foam. Because PFAS take a very long time to break down, they can accumulate in humans and the environment. Now, a growing body of research is linking them to human health problems like serious illness, some cancers, lower fertility and liver damage. Science correspondent Pien Huang joins the show today to talk through this new EPA rule — what the threshold for safe levels of PFAS in tap water is, why the rule is happening now and how the federal standards will be implemented.

Read more of Pien's reporting on the EPA's first ever rule on PFAS in drinking water.

Want to hear more about health and human safety? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we might cover your question on a future episode!

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is setting the first ever safety standards for so-called forever chemicals in drinking water.

Sonny Bharadia has been granted a new trial after twenty-two years in prison. 

PFAS chemicals have been used for decades to waterproof and stain-proof consumer products and are linked to health problems.

A study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that the man-made chemicals are present in nearly half the country's tap water supply.

Drinking water in Columbus contains traces of toxic chemical compounds, commonly referred to as ‘forever chemicals’, slightly above proposed federal standards.

A new government study estimates that at least 45% of the nation's tap water could be contaminated with one or more forms of PFAS. Here's what to do if you're worried about what's in your faucet.