self-care propaganda

Over fifty years of data show a peak in PFAS (also known as "forever chemicals") content in seabird eggs in the 90s, followed by a decrease as regulations went into effect. The most recent findings show a 70% decrease of most common PFAS.

We are making genuine progress! Producers are dramatically altering how much they use PFAS and how much gets released in effluent, but also there's a lot better understanding of how to remove PFAS from the environment!

you can think of this sort of like how water wicks into a paper towel. the water gets stuck to the paper because it's attracted to it via capillary forces, even though there's no chemical reaction going on.

the two main methods used are granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption and ion exchange (IX).

activated carbon is already pretty familiar to a lot of us; it's the stuff in a lot of replaceable water filters. the activated carbon has a huge internal surface area, and that allows for the fairly weak intermolecular forces to add up and allow contaminants to get "stuck" onto the surface of the activated carbon. over time, the activated carbon gets filled with junk, and you have to replace it.

GAC is essentially this, except that the activated carbon is granularized and produced in specific ways to maximize how much it attracts certain chemicals. this can be tuned because activated carbon gets its massive surface area from internal "pores", and various processes will change how large and frequent those pores are.

It's essentially a Russian nesting doll of pores, and controlling the size of the larger pores influences the permeability of the activated carbon and controlling the size of the smaller pores (micropores) influences what exactly is most attracted to the activated carbon.

However, GAC has a few major downsides:

It is not specific to PFAS. This is more of a mixed blessing because it was already frequently used and well understood, and the infrastructure for producing and distributing it already existed. However,

It loses effectiveness over time and must be replaced. This is a continued cost, albeit a low one, but this has one final major issue

As time goes on, the PFAS previously adsorbed to the activated carbon is desorbed and replaced by other things that have a higher affinity for the activated carbon.

As such, ion exchange (IX) was always very compelling. The whole point of it relies on the fact that PFAS molecules are predominantly made of two parts: An acid head group (either a carboxylic or sulfonic acid group) and a perfluorinated tail.

The head groups on the right are what become ionized—or specifically, deprotonated. A hydrogen leaves and is replaced with a metal cation (usually sodium), forming a PFAS salt (chemical meaning of salt!). These are much more soluble in water because of polarity reasons, and so the mobile PFAS molecules are almost always in that salt form.

By passing through these PFAS salts through a permeable polymer matrix that has (1) numerous positively charged groups like quaternary amines and (2) highly mobile negative ions loosely attached to those stationary positive groups (most often chlorides), you can actually get the PFAS to be "stuck" inside the polymer matrix and what comes out is just good ol' sodium chloride, or salt (culinary meaning of salt!).

This shows a version with hydroxide (OH-) ions as the mobile anion, but it's the same idea. The +NR3 in yellow are stuck to the polymer matrix, but the OH- can freely move around. However, without another anion to replace the OH-, the ionic attraction prevents the hydroxides from leaving.

In comes the PFAS. Despite being slightly soluble in water, the anionic PFAS aren't really that mobile, and when they pass through, it's much easier for the hydroxide ions to leave. Another very important effect is that the long perfluorinated tail of the PFAS is attracted to the polymer matrix, whilst the counterions are ONLY attracted via the ionic force. Thus, PFAS would much rather hang out in the polymer matrix.

Of course, IX has its own downsides

These resins are much more expensive, both to manufacture and to transport.

While they can be "regenerated", it's a tricky process that currently requires the use of nearly anhydrous methanol, which is both poisonous and extremely flammable, increasing the operating costs.

As the hydrophobic tail is a key part of allowing the PFAS to stick to the matrix, short-chain PFAS are very poorly dealt with by this system. This is exacerbated by competition between different PFAS molecules, as long-chain ones will cause short-chain ones to desorb.

Overall, the best method appears to be using a series of ion exchange resins followed by an activated carbon filter. The ion exchange will capture the bulk of the PFAS molecules, and the activated carbon will grab any stragglers. Effective filtering of other contaminants prior to the PFAS removal system will also ensure minimal competition in the activated carbon.

Also a welcome reminder that just because a Big Problem doesn't seem practically solvable right now doesn't mean it won't become solvable in the future!

If you follow the news, you’ll notice there have been a number of high profile issues involving trans teens or kids.

Many trans or gender non-conforming youth come to us looking for support they’re having difficulty finding, or don’t feel safe looking for elsewhere. We know from talking with these users that one of the biggest factors in their overall well-being – and how hard or easy all of this is on them – is how supported and safe they feel in their identities when around their families.

With that fact in mind, we wanted to create a guide for parents about what to do in the event that your child comes out to you as trans, or is otherwise questioning their gender identity and identifying themselves to you as (or possibly as) gender nonconforming. This list is created with an eye towards how can you support them while dealing with any emotions you might be have as a result of the announcement.

In the conversation: Dos and (oh-my-goodness-please) Do Nots

I think one of my biggest concerns about telling my parents is suddenly I’m a big deal, and a point of attention once they know they know. Even if they don’t say anything they will think things. Even if they aren’t judging me I will feel like they are. I don’t know if I could live like that. And what if they disown me or kick me out or something?

Do: Listen. Just listen.

Do not: Turn this into the Spanish Inquisition. You may have dozens of questions, from “But how can you be sure?” to “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Now is not the time for them. Your child might bring up those points later, but right now what they need most from you is reassurance that you love them, you’re not ashamed of them and that you’re here for them.

Do: Ask if there’s anything specific they would like you to do to make them feel accepted or safe at home (pronoun changes, helping them buy clothes that they’re comfortable in, etc).

Do: Ask them to what degree they would like to be “out” at the moment. Some trans youth want everyone (school, friends, family) to know right away so that they will use the correct name/pronouns around them. Others may want only a few people to know at first while they work out which spaces or people are safe to be themselves around.

Do Not: Tell them they are a disgrace, or bad, or that you’re heartbroken by their announcement. I wish this was something I didn’t have to write, but those are reactions that parents have to trans children.

Do: Check ourself with anything you may want to say or ask using this yardstick: would  question this were your child cisgender? For example, “How do you know for sure you’re a girl?” probably isn’t something you’d ask or suggest if their gender “matched” their biological sex.  It wouldn’t be sound in that situation, and it’s also not in this one.

I’m scared she would be upset with me, that everything would change between us and go sour.

Do: Did I mention reassure them that you still love and accept them? I’ll say it again just to be sure.

Ongoing Support: Dos and Do Nots

Do Not: Make your child be your therapist or otherwise process your emotions about their identity or transition in front of them. You may feel scared, or confused, or feel like you’ve “lost” the son or daughter you had. Those emotions? They happen away from your child, because your child does not need to be made to feel guilty (even unintentionally). And if you need a counselor or therapist to help you with your feelings, by all means, seek one out!  Trans-friendly therapists are becoming more and more accessible, and aren’t just for transgender people: they’re for the families of transgender people, too.

Incidentally, if you find yourself feeling as though you have to “mourn” the son or daughter you had, that’s a common reaction. However, I want to offer up a thought on that end. Your child being trans does not erase your lives together up to this point, nor the person they are and who you have known. It does not, ultimately, change the child you have. They have the same aspirations, memories, qualities, and flaws that they’ve always had. The pronouns, or name may change, the clothes may change, but they are still your child, and still the person you love and have known them to be.

Do: Educate yourself from reliable sources. Read works by trans authors discussing their experiences. There is a growing number of great, thoughtful resources about understanding trans lives and supporting trans loved ones. If you’d like a couple great books to start with, check out Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin and The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals by Stephanie A. Brill.

Do: Find additional support for your child. A trans-friendly counselor, therapist or youth support group is likely to be a godsend for your child as well as all of your family, both so they can have someone educated and accepting dedicated to them in all of this, and to help all of you navigate their identity and any part of the process with it they may want to embark upon. Find support for yourself if you feel you need it, too . There are organizations and qualified, caring professionals for families of trans youth to share experiences and support each other.

Do: Know that you may slip up in the early days. The wrong pronoun or name may come out, you may say “son” when you should say daughter. That’s okay, this is new for you, and you can’t be an old hand at it yet. If that happens, just correct yourself, gently apologize and continue the conversation. Extra bonus: that will show them how others should respond when they do the same, and empower them when it comes to feeling it’s a given they should be respected in this way.

Do Not: Use the fact that this is new and you are learning as an excuse to not try at all.

Do: Stick up for your child. This could mean standing with them if they run up against issues in school (like being allowed to use the bathroom they feel comfortable in) or correcting family members who misgender or otherwise try to invalidate their identity. This can be an incredibly hard thing to do. There are still many, many people who view trans folks as deviant or “unnatural.” Some of those people may be friends or family. And, sadly, many otherwise reasonable people seem to become suddenly unreasonable when faced with trans people. So, be prepared to protect your child. Familiarize yourself with the non-discrimination laws in your state and county so that, if something goes wrong, you know what your options are. Come up with and practice some basic scripts for friends and family who who may be difficult (ask your child if they have any input on what they want said in those moments).

Do: Continue to listen to and trust your child when they say they need something, even if that something is hormones, hormone blockers, or surgery.

Do: Know that the situation may continue to change. For some trans folks, they feel that they fall solidly on one side of the gender binary or the other (either a boy or a girl). Others find that they don’t quite fit within that binary, or that they want to take time to explore gender and gender expression for themselves.

Visibility and support of trans issues continues to grow, but that support will likely generate some push-back and hostility. But no matter what the overall cultural climate is, you supporting your child will mean that they will at least have one safe, welcoming space that they can call home.

Further Reading and Resources

Gender Spectrum

Redefining Realness by Janet Mock

GSA Network

- Sam

Since 2015 we’ve also added a few more resources to the list above that you can turn to if you’re looking for extra support:

Trans Summer School

Rebel Well: For Those Who Are LGBTQIA+

I am begging the UK trans community and its allies to attend the Mass Lobby at Parliament on June 25th, 11am-4pm, organised by Trans Solidarity Alliance.

The new EHRC Code of Practice pushes trans people out of toilets, hospital wards, and community spaces. It normalises gender policing based on appearance and stereotypes. It becomes statutory guidance in the UK by the end of June.

Trans people are now legally their assigned gender at birth and must join gendered spaces accordingly, but if they are perceived as their lived gender, they can also be ejected from those spaces. The guidance says: either break the law, or don’t pass too well.

A mass lobby is where you invite your MP to discuss your concerns with you in-person. Ask your MP to:

Demand full parliamentary scrutiny, debate, and use their free vote on the EHRC Code of Practice.

Support any motions rejecting the EHRC guidance. As of June 4th, Labour MP Nadia Whittome has submitted a prayer motion - Early Day Motion 240.

Write to Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities about our concerns

Your MP does not have to be an ally, they do not have to respond to your email for you to show up and greencard them (details below the cut.) What matters is that as many people as possible show up.

I cannot stress this enough: Showing up in person matters. It is much more effective than petitions, emails, and letters.

It is a horrible, stressful time, and I am so sorry if you're trans and live in the UK. But I was at last year's mass lobby and the line for greencarding alone stretched around the back gates. It was a record breaking mass lobby and made us impossible to ignore. Let's do even better this time. Details under the cut:

To recover, you literally need to manually learn skills that most people learn as a toddler

You need to learn what makes your body uncomfortable, and what to do to fix it

If you are high-masking, that usually means that you have learned to ignore every distress signal your body sends unless it is a distress signal that a neurotypical person would recognize. People have likely been unintentionally gaslighting you about your lived experience your entire life

If you feel bad or panicked for no reason, stop and try to pay attention to your body. Are you tense? You are likely feeling physical pain somewhere. If you've been gaslit about your pain your entire life, you might not be able to identify it.

Go through a sensory checklist.

SIGHT: Try closing and covering your eyes. If this gives you relief, the lights are probably too bright. You may also need differently-colored lights

SOUND: Cover your ears. Does this give you relief? If so, you may need earplugs or noise canceling headphones. You may also benefit from a neutral or pleasant background noise, like soft music or brown noise.

TOUCH: Are your clothes uncomfortable? Your chair? Your body? Do you feel greasy, like you need a shower? Do you need softer, sensory-friendly clothing?

TASTE: Do you need to brush your teeth or tongue? Would chewing on something help?

SMELL: Is there a strong or unpleasant smell in the room? Do you need to clean or empty a trash can? Would an air purifier help? Would a pleasant smell like a candle help?

INTEROCEPTION: Are you hungry? Thirsty? Tired? How is your posture? Are any of your muscles tight or sore? Scan your body slowly from head to feet, tensing and loosening each group of muscles. Going for a walk or doing a series of quick stretches may help a lot.

Learning how to do this stuff is not intuitive, if you've had an entire lifetime of gaslighting telling you that everything hurting you isn't a big deal and you're being dramatic over nothing.

This takes time, it takes work, it's not intuitive, and it's hard. Most people forget how hard it is, because they learned this as toddlers.

People often ask me about my unmasking journey and express surprise to hear that such a big part of it has been 1) accepting I must avoid light/the sun and 2) wearing clothes I can stand.

I’ll play it jokey and say it like “well it took me far too long to realize that my former wardrobe made me want to jump off a bridge.” Or “turns out my old underwear was anti-autistic.” Or “for whatever reason when it’s too bright, I can’t think.”

This tool lets you find your MP and send them an email just by putting in your postcode and details.

Asking your MP to join this and support us gives us a chance at walking this back.

It takes less than 5 minutes. The email is pre-written, but you can add you own experiences and concerns.

Made a zine to distribute with info and a link/QR code to the tool. It is aimed primarily at people who aren't trans or trans allies (including latent transphobes).

Please feel free to print this off & distribute it in your area. It can be printed on A4 paper, or you can access versions that have 2 smaller copies to an A4 page here. (smaller copies saves paper, makes them easier to pocket. my distribution technique is finding tactical places in public to leave them; public transport, on tables in cafes, near other leaflets. you can hand them out directly at Prides etc if you feel confident with that).

"am i normal" is not as helpful question to ask as "are intrusive thoughts causing me frequent distress?" and "would my life be better if i could find a way to feel less distress/learn to tolerate the distress?"

If you don't like drawing figures and poses because they're frustrating, draw figures and poses and get frustrated! Draw them! With anger! Swear and curse at them!

If you don't like drawing traditionally because there's too much room to make mistakes, draw traditionally and make mistakes! Scream while doing it! Put on scary music! Make it silly!

This goes for any kind of craft or skill

yeah. and you can even include "thing that reduces the barrier to doing the task" as a catalyst/enzyme

You have to put in that extra energy and motivation to start it - but once you're going, it's not so bad.

Glasgow Zine Library needs of renovations in order to safely store and display their zine collection, and improve accessibility.

Good news: They are currently only £500 away from their £12,726 goal, and for every donation made, Creative Scotland will double that money.

Bad news: This is an all-or-nothing fundraiser, so if they don't meet that goal before June 13th, they get nothing.

From their fundraiser:

"Our ability to safely and accessibly store, preserve, and display our zine collection is in jeopardy. In addition, we are running out of space to continue accepting zine donations. That is why we urgently need to upgrade our collection storage and display to increase capacity, accessibility, and improve preservation.

Our archive, which holds the entirety of our collection, is running out of space to safely and accessibly store and preserve the zines. As a result, the condition and future of our zine collection is at risk of rapid decline due to insufficient storage and preservation capacity. We have reached capacity, turning away major donations, and (with permissions) donating duplicates.

Reaching capacity of our archive means that we have to turn away zine donations and halt zine acquisition of cultural objects. For instance, we turned away 249 issues of historically significant literary zine, 100 issues of an important writing zine, and a large collection of music zines and magazines. Another donor wants to bequeath a significant 1980-90s zine collection including historical trans zines.

Currently, we do not have the capacity to store and preserve them. Without this project we cannot properly preserve the collection or sustain zine donation intake."

I've been attending Glasgow Zine Fest for a few years now, and the work they do not only preserving such a variety of voices, but supporting new zine makers and local communities is amazing. They've run fundraisers for Palestine and refugees, coding meetups for trans folks, and anti-capitalist writing workshops.

I'm really hopeful they'll be able to make this deadline, but I've donated as much as I can. If any of yous have some to spare, please consider it. And consider visiting, as well!!