US: almost half of tap water tainted with “forever chemicals”, study finds

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has recently released a comprehensive report detailing widespread contamination of the nation's drinking water. The study reveals that nearly half of all tap water in the US is tainted with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).    

PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment, are found in numerous consumer products and industrial applications. According to the USGS, there are over 12 000 types of PFAS, and exposure to these substances have been linked to human health issues such as cancer, low birth weight, thyroid disease, and more.    

The USGS study, which spanned 2016 to 2021, collected and analyzed 716 tap water samples from across the US. It estimated that at least one type of PFAS could be present in nearly half of the tap water in the US. The most frequently detected compounds were PFBS, PFHxS, and PFOA, and in every sample where they were detected, PFAS concentrations exceeded the interim health advisories released by the EPA in 2022.    

The findings indicate a higher likelihood of PFAS exposure in urban areas. Potential PFAS sources, such as industrial facilities, airports, and wastewater treatment plants located on the outskirts of urban development, were closely associated with individual PFAS compounds in tap water.    

Despite the alarming data, the number of people drinking contaminated water may be even higher than the study's findings suggest, due to the fact that the research only tested for 32 of the over 12 000 known PFAS substances.    

The USGS study underscored the urgent need for comprehensive point-of-use tap water monitoring, particularly focusing on unmonitored private wells and underserved communities relying on small community water supplies. It also pointed to a need for stronger regulations and standards for acceptable PFAS levels in drinking water.

 

 

The potential health consequences of these findings are grave. Studies have associated PFAS exposure with increased cholesterol levels, immune system disorders, and negative effects on infant and child development. Given these significant health risks, the study's authors call for immediate action to address this environmental crisis and safeguard public health.    

The proposed solutions include integrating geospatial data with PFAS information to identify vulnerable regions and populations, expanding monitoring efforts to include rural and private well-dependent communities, and furthering the development of target and non-target analysis methods in drinking water monitoring programs.    

The authors also advocate for significant investment in advanced water treatment technologies to effectively remove PFAS from drinking water supplies, with a focus on innovative solutions to tackle this pervasive contamination. Finally, they propose targeted efforts to clean up contaminated sites and prevent further PFAS contamination of groundwater sources, using remediation strategies such as soil and water treatment.    

In response to the mounting concern over PFAS contamination, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to restrict and regulate PFAS in food and drinking water. The proposal includes a federal law requiring companies to disclose whether they use these chemicals in any of their products.    

The implications of the USGS's report are deeply concerning. With the health of the American people at stake, the need for swift and comprehensive action to tackle this problem has never been more pressing.    

 

Sources:

USGS

Science Direct