Nearly 100 million Americans live in areas where the water supply is contaminated with PFAS, “forever chemicals,” a government study warns.
For the first time, the U.S. Geological Survey has estimated how many small-town private wells and utilities are filled with chemicals linked to cancer and infertility.
In total, they estimate that between 71 and 95 million people may depend on water containing permanent chemicals. The states with the most citizens likely affected by this are Florida, California and Michigan.
PFAS chemicals are used to make a range of products, from stain-resistant clothing to plastic and pesticides. On this map, created by USGS researchers, each dot represents a potential source of PFAS, as estimated. The different colors correspond to different sources of PFAS.
Permanent chemicals, so called because they don’t break down in our bodies or the environment, have been used in manufacturing since the 1940s, to make everything from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam and weather-resistant clothing. the stains.
From wastewater, chemical spills, or accumulation in landfills, these chemicals can leach into the ground.
According to the EPA, long-term exposure to PFAS can lead to an increased risk of prostate, kidney and testicular cancer, developmental delays in children, decreased fertility in women, and disruption of the body’s hormonal balance.
The chemicals have also been shown to weaken the immune system, making it difficult for the body to defend itself against infections.
The Environmental Protection Agency created a law in 2024 requiring public drinking water systems to begin testing and limiting water for PFAS by 2025.
However, the EPA rule does not extend to utilities that serve fewer than 3,300 people.
About 13 percent of the U.S. population lives in these areas, leaving about 44 million people unaware of their exposure to PFAS.
The study authors said, “People in the United States may unknowingly be drinking water containing PFAS due to a lack of systematic testing, particularly in household water supplies.”
The new research examined these water systems for the first time, estimated the number of people who could be exposed to PFAS in these areas, and published their findings in Science magazine.
To do this, they created a public water supply model that supplies less than 3,300 people and users of domestic wells.
From 2019 to 2022 they collected well samples from three well networks across the United States.
This gave them an idea of what PFAS were in the groundwater around local airports, metal plating facilities, plastics manufacturers, fire training areas, chemical factories and national defense sites.
They analyzed the samples for 24 different types of PFAS chemicals.
The researchers then fed the data they collected into a complex machine learning algorithm, which projected their findings to groundwater sources in the contiguous United States.
This combined information on rural and private drinking water systems with groundwater systems that supply larger utilities, before being treated to remove chemicals.
By doing this, they discovered that the drinking water that 71 to 95 million people depend on could have detectable levels of PFAS. Most of it came from small public water systems.
EPA rules require utilities in developed areas to test their water supplies for PFAS and limit the chemicals, but that still leaves Americans in less populated areas and those who use private wells potentially exposed to chemicals forever. , the scientists said.
They found that the states with the highest number of people potentially affected were Michigan and Florida. The states with the highest percentage of people affected were Massachusetts and Washington DC
Nationwide, the area with the highest concentration of PFAS chemicals was found in the Biscayne Main Aquifer in South Florida.
The researchers said they hope their model can help people who are at high risk of exposure become more aware of their risk and push for testing.
They said: “The results are available for public consumption, allowing owners to evaluate the results in their region and determine if home testing or treatment are options they would like to pursue.”
If a water provider knows there are always chemicals in your system, they can treat it to limit the chemicals that end up in your tap.
At home or at private wells, there are filters you can buy to remove these chemicals from water, but experts recommend purchasing only those that are independently certified to filter out PFAS.
Consumer Reports recommends looking for filters with seals from the National Sanitation Foundation, the Water Quality Association, or the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.
These range from $45 to $1,200, depending on whether you’re looking for a countertop, under-sink, faucet, or pitcher filter. Some brands that stand out include Brondell, Aquasana and Culligan.