Report: Potentially Harmful Chemicals Detected in Drinking Water from Almost Half of US Faucets

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According to a government study released on Wednesday, drinking water from nearly half of the faucets in the United States likely contains “forever chemicals” that have the potential to cause cancer and other health issues.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stated that synthetic compounds collectively known as PFAS are contaminating drinking water to varying degrees in both large cities and small towns, affecting both private wells and public water systems.

This study is the first nationwide effort to test for PFAS in tap water from private sources in addition to regulated ones, expanding on previous findings that these chemicals are widespread. PFAS has been found in various consumer products such as nonstick pans, food packaging, and water-resistant clothing, ultimately making its way into water supplies.

While the USGS is a scientific research agency and doesn’t provide policy recommendations, lead author Kelly Smalling, a research hydrologist, mentioned that the information can be utilized to assess the risk of exposure and make informed decisions about water treatment, testing, or seeking further information from state authorities about the local situation.

In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first federal drinking water limits on six forms of PFAS, which are substances that persist in the human body for years and do not break down in the environment. A final decision on these limits is expected later this year or in 2024.

However, companies using these chemicals are currently not prohibited from releasing them into public wastewater systems, according to Scott Faber, a senior vice president of the Environmental Working Group. Faber emphasized the need to address this issue at the source and require polluters to treat their own waste rather than reacting after the fact.

Studies on laboratory animals have indicated potential links between PFAS chemicals and certain cancers, such as kidney and testicular cancers, as well as health problems like high blood pressure and low birth weight.

Typically, federal and state programs measure exposure to pollutants like PFAS at water treatment plants or groundwater wells that supply them. In contrast, the USGS report is based on samples collected from taps in 716 locations, including 447 relying on public water supplies and 269 using private wells.

Samples were taken between 2016 and 2021, encompassing various locations such as residences, schools, offices, national parks, areas with no known PFAS sources, and urban centers with industries or waste sites associated with PFAS generation.

While most taps were sampled only once, a few were sampled multiple times over a three-month period, with minimal changes in the results, according to Smalling.

The scientists tested for 32 PFAS compounds using available methods, although thousands of other compounds are believed to exist but cannot be detected with current technology.

The most frequently detected types of PFAS were PFBS, PFHxS, PFOA, and PFOS, with PFOS being one of the most commonly found nationwide.

Positive samples often contained up to nine different PFAS varieties, although most samples had closer to two. The median concentration for all 32 PFAS types was approximately seven parts per trillion, while for PFOA and PFOS, it was around four parts per trillion, which aligns with the proposed EPA limit for these two compounds.

The highest concentrations of PFAS were found in cities and areas near potential sources of these compounds, particularly along the Eastern Seaboard, Great Lakes, Great Plains, and Central and Southern California. Many tests conducted in rural areas yielded no traces of PFAS.

Based on the data, researchers estimated that at least one form of PFAS could be found in approximately 45% of tap water samples across the country.

Scott Faber from the Environmental Working Group emphasized that private well# Study Reveals Potential Dangers: Harmful Chemicals Detected in Almost Half of US Tap Water

A government study released on Wednesday reveals that nearly half of the faucets in the United States are likely to dispense drinking water containing “forever chemicals,” which can pose risks of cancer and other health problems.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that various synthetic compounds collectively known as PFAS are contaminating drinking water to varying degrees, affecting both large cities and small towns, as well as private wells and public water systems.

This study stands out as the first nationwide initiative to test tap water from private sources, alongside regulated ones, for PFAS. It builds upon previous scientific evidence suggesting the wide prevalence of these chemicals, which have been found in a range of consumer products such as nonstick pans, food packaging, and water-resistant clothing, ultimately finding their way into water supplies.

The USGS report does not provide policy recommendations since it is a scientific research agency. However, lead author Kelly Smalling, a research hydrologist, suggests that the information can be used to assess the risk of exposure, make decisions about water treatment, conduct testing, or seek more information from local authorities regarding the situation.

In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first federal limits on PFAS in drinking water, targeting six specific forms of the chemicals that persist in the human body and do not degrade in the environment. A final decision on these limits is expected in late 2023 or 2024.

However, the government has yet to ban the release of these chemicals by companies into public wastewater systems, as noted by Scott Faber, a senior vice president of the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization. Faber emphasizes the need to address the issue at its source by requiring polluters to treat their waste rather than reacting after the fact.

Studies on laboratory animals have shown potential links between PFAS chemicals and various health concerns, including certain cancers like kidney and testicular cancers, high blood pressure, and low birth weight.

Typically, federal and state programs measure pollutant exposure, including PFAS, at water treatment plants or groundwater wells. In contrast, the USGS study collected samples from taps in 716 locations, including 447 relying on public water supplies and 269 using private wells.

Samples were collected between 2016 and 2021, encompassing diverse locations such as residences, schools, offices, national parks, areas without known PFAS sources, as well as urban centers with industries or waste sites associated with PFAS contamination.

While most taps were sampled once, a few underwent multiple samplings over a three-month period, with minimal changes in results, according to Smalling.

The study examined 32 PFAS compounds, using currently available methods, but it is believed that thousands of other compounds exist that cannot be detected with current technology.

The most frequently detected PFAS types were PFBS, PFHxS, PFOA, and PFOS, with PFOS being one of the most commonly found compounds nationwide.

Positive samples often contained up to nine different PFAS varieties, although most samples had closer to two. The median concentration of all 32 PFAS types was approximately seven parts per trillion, whereas for PFOA and PFOS, it was around four parts per trillion, matching the proposed EPA limits for these two compounds.

The highest PFAS concentrations were found in cities and areas near potential sources of contamination, particularly along the Eastern Seaboard, Great Lakes, Great Plains, and Central and Southern California. Many tests conducted in rural areas did not detect PFAS.

Based on the data, researchers estimate that at least one form of PFAS can be found in around 45% of tap water samples across the country.

Scott Faber from theEnvironmental Working Group highlights that individuals using private wells should have their water tested for PFAS and consider installing filters. Activated carbon or reverse osmosis membrane filters can effectively remove these compounds.

The USGS study provides further evidence that PFAS is widespread, and individuals relying on private wells are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of these chemicals, according to Faber.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about forever chemicals

More about forever chemicals

• Government Study on PFAS in US Tap Water
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Proposed PFAS Limits
• Health Effects of PFAS Exposure
• Water Testing and Treatment for PFAS