Recent Studies About The Extent of PFAS Contamination

More than 143 million people in the United States may be exposed to toxic “forever chemicals” in their drinking water, according to a new analysis of water testing data. The findings come as environmentalists fear that the incoming Trump administration will weaken or repeal tough new standards designed to protect public health.

Under new rules set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), water utilities across the country are required to test for 29 different forms of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals” — a broad class of toxic chemicals that do not break down in the environment and can build up in the human body.

The EPA water testing data from more than 2,300 locations contributes to a growing list of 8,865 communities across all 50 states where PFAS contamination of tap water has been confirmed by state and local authorities or the Department of Defense.

The latest round of data suggests that 11 million more people are exposed to PFAS through drinking water than previously known, according to analysis by the Environmental Working Group. As of October, the EPA was still waiting on test results from 30 percent of the nation’s water utilities, so the known scope of contamination could grow.

A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that up to 200 million people in the U.S. could be exposed to the most notorious PFAS chemicals, PFOS and PFOA, through drinking water.

Even low doses of PFAS can suppress the immune system, and studies show that exposure to PFAS can increase the risk of cancer, harm fetal development and reduce vaccine effectiveness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that virtually everyone living in the U.S. has trace amounts of PFAS in their blood, including newborn babies.

(content courtesy of Mike Ludwig , Truthout
Published November 21, 2024)