Rainwater everywhere on the planet is unsafe to drink due to levels of toxic chemicals known as PFAS that exceed the latest guidelines, according to a new study by Stockholm University scientists.
Pure water picks up all manner of chemicals from the air it falls through. If there is an excess of carbon, sulfur, or toxic chemicals, they can get dissolved or carried by the water to the ground.
Coincidentally, that process is how industrial gas scrubbers work. Imagine a showerhead inside a tank with a ton of macaroni pieces. The dirty air comes from the lower side and and a solvent (water works in many cases) pours through the shower. The contaminants dissolve in the water and air is purified (to an extent). That high surface area works wonders to exchange molecules.
Pure water picks up all manner of chemicals from the air it falls through. If there is an excess of carbon, sulfur, or toxic chemicals, they can get dissolved or carried by the water to the ground.
That’s where acid rain came from.
Whoa, that makes sense but is still wild. Thank you!
Coincidentally, that process is how industrial gas scrubbers work. Imagine a showerhead inside a tank with a ton of macaroni pieces. The dirty air comes from the lower side and and a solvent (water works in many cases) pours through the shower. The contaminants dissolve in the water and air is purified (to an extent). That high surface area works wonders to exchange molecules.