‘forever chemicals,’ US drinking water may contain toxic

According to a recent study, toxic “forever chemicals,” which are present in nearly half of US tap water samples and are found in hundreds of everyday items like pizza boxes and cleaning supplies, pose serious health risks when exposed to large doses.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) study examined tap water samples taken from more than 700 homes, places of business, and drinking-water treatment facilities located all over the nation to check for the presence of PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl chemicals.

According to the researchers, 45 percent of the samples contained at least one such synthetic chemical at levels above benchmarks and proposed US regulations.

Because PFAS are water resistant, they do not degrade in the environment and remain in people’s bodies for a long time. They were created in the 1940s along with Teflon, a non-stick cookware coating, and are now utilized in everything from clothing to plastic products.

Groundwater, reservoirs, and water treatment facilities have all been measured for PFAS in earlier studies. However, Kelly Smalling, a USGS hydrologist who oversaw the research, said that examining tap water enables for a more precise assessment of what people are consuming.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to high levels of PFAS can affect the health of pregnant women and cause hormone disruption, liver dysfunction, an increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer, decreased birth weight in babies, and other health issues.

Only some of the 12,000 PFAS types that are known have tests available. Between 2016 and 2021, 32 types were examined in the study samples, which were taken from public and private wells.

Samples from private wells and the public supply did not differ in PFAS exposure, which Smalling found to be “very surprising.”

Unlike privately owned wells, public water supplies are subject to EPA regulation.

People in urban areas are more likely to be exposed to PFAS in drinking water than those in rural areas, according to the study.

The EPA first put forth a national standard for six PFAS in drinking water in March. It would necessitate monitoring of public water systems and disclosure of PFAS levels that are above safe levels.

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law under the Biden administration, almost $10 billion was allocated to assist communities in reducing PFAS and other chemical contaminants.

source reuters