VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — With Virginia’s gubernatorial and House of Delegates elections approaching, environmental groups say the state’s next leaders will play a key role in protecting waterways from emerging contaminants that pose risks to both ecosystems and human health.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has outlined priorities for incoming policymakers, including stricter accountability for polluters, closing regulatory loopholes, and addressing chemicals such as microplastics and PFAS - sometimes called “forever chemicals.”

What are emerging contaminants?

Rob Hale, a professor of marine science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, said these substances fall under what scientists call “emerging contaminants.”

“Emerging contaminants are just contaminants that have not been on the

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