Half of U.S. Water Supply Contains 'Forever Chemicals'

Updated July 7, 2023

• A federal study by the U.S. Geological Survey has found that toxic "forever chemicals" could be in up to half of the U.S. tap water supply.
• The study tested water samples at over 700 locations over a five-year period to reach their conclusion. Unlike other analyses, the researchers collected water directly from homeowners' taps at the point of exposure.
• In June 2022, the EPA issued health advisories for drinking water containing the main "forever chemicals," PFOA and PFOS.
• The researchers tested for 32 individual PFAS and PFOA compounds and said that the EPA's recent advisories "were exceeded in every sample in which they were detected." They found similar results in both public supplies and private wells.
• The researchers found that the likelihood of contamination is higher in urban areas, with a 75% chance of contamination, compared to a 25% chance in rural areas.
• The researchers discovered geographical hot spots: the Great Plains, Great Lakes, Eastern Seaboard, and Central/Southern California.
• Kelly Smalling, a researcher from the Geological Survey, told NPR:

"This USGS study can help members of the public to understand their risk of exposure and inform policy and management decisions regarding testing and treatment options for drinking water." 

• The EPA recommends contacting your local water utility to learn more and to conduct frequent well testing.

What's the story?

• 98% of the population has detectable amounts of toxic, carcinogenic chemicals - known as PFAS - in their blood.
• PFAS - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - are known as “forever chemicals” because they break down slowly over time. These chemicals will be in the environment for years and years to come. 
• Chemical giant 3M announced in late 2022 that it would be phasing out the use of PFAS by 2025, at the cost of roughly $2.3 billion, amid lawsuits and shareholder demands. Critics consider the announcement extremely belated and an example of corporate greenwashing.

What are PFAS?

• PFAS are a class of about 9,000 compounds used to make products and materials resistant to water, heat, and stains. They are frequently found in food packaging, cookware, waterproof clothing, cosmetics, mattresses, carpets, electronics, and countless other consumer goods. 
• PFAS is an umbrella term that covers thousands of human-made substances, all of which are “forever chemicals” since they do not break down in the environment or organs.

What are the risks?

• PFOS and PFOA (part of the PFAS group) have been banned or restricted in the U.S. because of their toxic bioaccumulative effects. Despite this, their existence in the environment is persistent. The forever chemicals have been found in the deep ocean, Antarctica, and even humans, which has alarmed scientists and public health experts. 
• High-profile cases like the 1990 DuPont scandal — where the company contaminated public waterways — have brought public attention to the scourge of these chemicals. Despite knowing its toxic effects, DuPont discarded 7,100 tons of PFOA-laced sludge into "digestion ponds" - open, unlined pits in the ground - which seeped into the drinking water for 70,000 people. 
• Farmers near DuPont plants noticed that animals were dying gruesome deaths due to chemical poisoning. Further investigative work uncovered that it drastically increased the frequency of cancerous tumors in humans. Many call this case the "Big Bang" of the forever chemical crisis in the U.S.

How ubiquitous are they?

• Earlier this year, scientists said chemical pollution had crossed a “planetary boundary” beyond which lies the breakdown of global ecosystems.
• When attempting to paint the big picture of the unique health threat of the forever chemicals, Rob Bilott, an attorney fighting against chemical giants, said: 

“...we’re talking about a chemical that has managed to find its way into the blood of almost everything on the planet and almost every person in the United States.”

• A 2021 study found that PFAS compounds contaminate the air inside homes, classrooms, and stores at alarming levels. Out of 20 indoor sites examined by researchers, 17 tested positive for PFAS in dust and air.
• In 2018, the chemicals were found in the drinking water of about 16 million Americans and at 126 military bases. High levels were also found in firefighting foam used for training exercises. 
• More than 190 million chemicals are registered globally, and a new industrial chemical is created every 1.4 seconds on average. An analysis of popular brand-name products detected PFAS in nearly 75% of items labeled stain- or water-resistant. 
• The CDC found PFOA in the blood of 98% of Americans, in addition to being found in breast milk and umbilical cords.

PFAS Pushback

• Beginning January 2023, California will ban intentionally added PFAS from food packaging. Last month, California's attorney general sued 3M and Dupont to recoup clean-up costs associated with PFAS production.
• In August of this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed designating the two most common PFAS as hazardous substances. While the agency currently does not require routine testing, it will begin collecting samples of 29 different PFAS in the nation’s drinking water between 2023 and 2025. Activists hope this will lead to frequent testing. 
• Maine banned all PFAS in 2021 in a landmark decision that will take full effect in 2030.
• Colorado passed a law earlier this year that banned the use of PFAS in the oil and gas industries. 
• In Hawaii, PFAS were banned from firefighting foam earlier this year.
• Shareholder pressure is mounting — investors managing $8 trillion in assets have written to the world's largest chemical companies demanding they cease production.
• The Biden administration is considering designating certain forever chemicals as hazardous substances under the Superfund program.

How can I avoid exposure?

• The EPA has created a list of more than 120,000 locations within the U.S. where exposure might be exceptionally high. The public is advised to avoid visiting these areas. 
• People who dine out frequently have higher levels of PFAS in their blood due to takeout containers, even with eco-friendly or sustainable packaging. 
• Contact your local water utility to inquire whether they test for PFAS and PFCs. 

Is your government doing enough to combat PFAS? Share your thoughts.

- Emma Kansiz