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Searching for ‘Forever Chemicals’ From an Endless Landfill Fire

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Testing done by ADEM, Butler said, also did not assess water samples taken from sites closest to the dump. And while PFAS compounds are certainly common, he said, experts have concluded that elevated levels in the human body can be a warranted health concern.

At this month’s meeting, many residents agreed with Butler, expressing a lack of confidence that ADEM—or any government officials—are looking out for residents in and around the Moody site.

Photo of Cahaba Riverkeepers David Butler addresses residents at this months meeting in Moody.

Jeff Wickliffe, chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, told those gathered that he believes more data is needed to fully understand what impacts the site could have had on those living nearby.

Because there are no natural sources of forever chemicals, Wickliffe said, it’s difficult to believe claims that only vegetative material was burned at the site given the levels present in the water. Other waste was likely present, he argued, in order to produce the levels of PFAS compounds present in discharge from the Moody site.

Questions around the source of PFAS in residents’ blood, if present, can be addressed by taking background measurements of individuals who weren’t exposed to the impacts of the fire and resulting pollution, for example, Wickliffe said.

Testing residents’ blood or urine for the presence of such compounds, then, may allow locals to document at least one avenue of potential impacts from the Moody site on their health, he said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), increases in exposure to PFAS compounds can increase cholesterol, decrease birth weight, lower antibody responses to vaccines, and increase risks of pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, and kidney and testicular cancer.

The risk of health impacts from PFAS is determined by exposure factors like dose, frequency, and duration, as well as individual factors like sensitivity or disease burden, according to the federal agency.

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Police in Philadelphia are searching for two men who robbed nail salons disguised as Muslim women.

Authorities say two male armed robbers disguised in women’s Muslim clothing robbed two Asian-owned nail businesses in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Police in Philadelphia published CCTV footage from inside each of the nail shops on Monday, alleging that two masked black male suspects held all of the staff at gunpoint.

According to police, the first incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. at the Happy Family Nail Salon and Spa, located at 1100 W. Girard Ave. Three hours later, the second robbery occurred at Nails In The City, 2401 Aramingo Ave.

In each robbery, the two suspects donned what police characterized as “women’s Muslim garb with masks.” Employees’ wallets and IDs were all stolen. The thieves also took money from the cash registers.

According to authorities, one employee at the second nail salon was wounded in the leg while pursuing the perpetrators. She was hospitalized and was classified in stable condition.

Salon employees spoke with FOX29 Philadelphia, appealing with the burglars to stop targeting their establishments.

“Please put a stop to it. “We work hard to make money,” one worker, who chose to remain unnamed, explained.

One suspect was described as a Black male, 6 feet tall with a stocky build, wearing a black and white print Muslim attire, an orange face mask, gray gloves, black pants, black and white Nike sneakers, and gray and white mechanic-style gloves.

The second suspect was described as a black male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a skinny build, and dressed in cheetah or leopard print Muslim clothing, a blue or purple face mask, black jeans, white sneakers, and gray and white mechanic-style gloves.

During a press conference on Monday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner told reporters that both nail salon robberies are under investigation.

As of Tuesday morning, no arrests had been made.