This 12 minute video about PFOA chemical pollution describes what "forever" chemicals are, some of the products you'll find them in, and how widespread the toxic pollutant is in drinking water across America.
It discusses the need for the precautionary principle when reviewing and approving new products, chemicals, and chemical ingredients in products.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The graphics in the video are very informative.
It provides a local example in North Carolina that some students may identify with.
Additional Prerequisites
There are ads during the video.
Although there is no direct discussion of climate change, clean and fresh water is vital to life on Earth and this dwindling resource is being affected by climate change and pollution.
Differentiation
Students could investigate the companies that make PFOA chemicals and investigate other chemicals that may be damaging to human health through the FDA, CDC, OSHA, and NIH websites.
Students could research all of the products that contain PFOA chemicals and types of water filters that might be able to filter them out of drinking water.
The United States has a long history of industrial pollution. It continues to this day. This well-researched video from Vox takes a look at "forever chemicals" in the drinking water in North Carolina and elsewhere. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Economics
D2.Eco.1.6-8 Explain how economic decisions affect the well-being of individuals, businesses, and society.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.2 Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
