Nearly half of the tap water in the United States likely contains toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other health issues, according to a new study from the U.S. Geological Survey.
The synthetic compounds known as “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, seep into drinking water across the country, from large metropolitan areas to rural towns.
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“The study estimates that at least one type of PFAS — of those that were monitored — could be present in nearly half of the tap water in the U.S.,” lead author Kelly Smalling, a research hydrologist, said in a press release.
PFAS are a group of chemicals created to coat products to resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Such chemicals are colorless, odorless, and tasteless and can be found in a variety of products, including adhesives, cookware, and food packaging such as pizza boxes and microwave popcorn bags.
The chemicals have been linked to issues with growth and development, obesity, reproduction, and the immune system, as well as increased risk of preeclampsia, and kidney and testicular cancer.
They are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade in the environment and remain in human bodies for years. The Environmental Protection Agency says the chemicals can be found in surface water, groundwater, soil, and air everywhere in the country.
According to USGS, at least 45% of the nation’s drinking water contains the chemicals, for which 32 were tested. There are more than 12,000 different types of PFAS chemicals, but not all are presently detectable.
The study tested both unregulated private and government-regulated public water supplies, the first test of its kind, according to researchers, who collected water samples between 2016 and 2021 directly from kitchen sinks in contrast to using data from municipal or private sources. Of the 716 faucets tested, 447 were public while 269 were private.
The amount of chemicals found in both public and private supplies was similar.
Most chemical exposure was found in urban areas and PFAS sources in the Great Plains, Great Lakes, Eastern Seaboard, and Central/Southern California regions, “in line with previous research concluding that people in urban areas have a higher likelihood of PFAS exposure,” according to USGS. Estimates of exposure show urban areas are 75% likely to be contaminated, while rural areas are 25% likely.
Contamination can come from a variety of sources, including firefighter training areas, industrial sites, airports, and military bases.
While municipal sources are responsible for monitoring, testing, and treating chemical levels, people with private wells are responsible for their own testing.
“Those interested in testing and treating private wells should contact their local and state officials for guidance,” the USGS press release states. “Testing is the only way to confirm the presence of these contaminants in wells.”
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The study comes as the EPA announced in March proposed federal limits on six kinds of PFAS chemicals in drinking water, which EPA Administrator Michael Regan said “has the potential to prevent tens of thousands of PFAS-related illnesses.”
Recently, chemical manufacturer 3M came to a $10.3 billion settlement over the contamination of drinking water systems with “forever chemicals.”
