We fixed one pollution problem, but now we've got something even scarier falling from the sky. Remember acid rain? It used to be the villain of the environmental world — destroying forests, polluting lakes, and corroding buildings. But thanks to public outcry decades ago, and strict laws, it's mostly a thing of the past.
So, what's the new threat?
Our rainfall today is filled with microplastics, "forever chemicals" called PFAS, and other pollutants you'd never guess. Such substances, from tiny plastic fibers to harmful chemicals, are floating through the air and settling into the water we drink, the food we eat, and even the air we breathe. Vox environmental correspondent Benji Jones's eye-opening new reporting unpacks the stakes of our exposure to the pollutants we're all living with — and what we can do about it.
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—Paige Vega, climate editor
