Madhvi Chittoor

ADVOCATING FOR THE EARTH

- Sanya Mansoor

When Madhvi Chittoor of Arvada, Colo., learned at the age of 6 that PFAS "forever chemicals" are found in all sorts of consumer products, she wanted to warn everyone. So she started with one person: Colorado state senator Lisa Cutter, a strong advocate for the environment. Cutter agreed to meet, and in 2021 she sat down with Madhvi-accompanied by her mom at a Panera.

They talked about how PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals used in consumer products since the 1940s, have made their way into drinking water, soil, food products, and the air. Peer-reviewed studies have found that exposure to certain levels of PFAS can lead to negative developmental effects in children, decreased fertility, increased risk of some cancers, reduced immune function, and increased cholesterol levels. Cutter already knew a little about PFAS but not enough to push her toward drafting a bill about them. Madhvi, she says, "really planted the seed."