Toxic ‘forever chemicals (PFAS)’ have been discovered in up to 45 percent of American tap water, according to a study published Wednesday that studied 716 locations and found 70 percent of urban areas were contaminated. Just eight percent of rural areas featured the same problems: “forever chemicals” in drinking water in cities, towns, the Great Lakes and Great Plains, public systems, and even private wells.
The substances found “repel oil and water and do not break down in the environment.” They are strongly linked to a long list of health problems, including cancers, fertility issues, and liver damage.
Yet, the US government has not prohibited companies from dumping such chemicals into public wastewater systems. Forever chemicals are used in furniture, cookware, waterproof clothing, packaging, and cosmetics.
The findings “can be used to evaluate risk of exposure and inform decisions about whether or not you want to treat your drinking water, get it tested or get more information from your state,” argues the study’s leading author, Kelly Smalling.
“What this study has shown us is that even though it’s estimating that 45 percent of US taps could have at least one PFAS, we also show that there are huge swaths of the country where PFAS was not detected, and I think that’s good news,” Smalling added.
