Forever Chemicals' Hotspots: New Study Reveals Areas in US, Other Countries Where PFAS Concentrations Go Beyond Safe Levels

A new study has found that there are certain areas across the US and in other countries that have high concentrations of forever chemicals that go beyond the regulatory limits of what is considered safe.

Hotspots of Forever Chemicals

The study found that certain locations have high concentrationso PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in samples of water. Such findings were noted in the "Underestimated burden of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in global surface waters and groundwaters" study. The researchers note that the PFAS concentrations in several of these hotspots exceed the safety levels.

As part of the study, the researchers examined data from over 33,900 groundwater and 12,000 surface water samples taken from all over the world. They were able to discover that 69% had more PFAS levels than what were allowed in Canada, as their minimum standard is 30 nanograms per liter. They also found that 6% exceed the standard of the European Union, which sits at 100 nanograms per liter.

Denis O'Carroll, an author of the study and professor at the University of New South Wales, explains that several source waters lie over PFAS regulatory limitations.

The study also reveals that the US houses several PFAS hotspots that exceed the drinking water limit of the US. These hotspots are situated all over the country but can particularly be found on the West Coast, Midwest, and in New England. PFAS was also found to be in high concentrations across Australia, China, and Europe.

However, the study acknowledges that such findings were among regions where most extensive testing was conducted. This could have ended up skewing the results. Further research could potentially unveil similar contamination levels all over the world.

PFAS: Forever Chemicals

Forever chemicals or PFAS are toxins used for making products resistant to stains, oil, heat, water, and grease. This makes them present in various household and everyday items, such as toilet paper, cooking tools, cosmetics, dental floss, and food packaging.

These chemicals have been identified by the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry as potential causes of health issues, such as heightened blood pressure or cholesterol, reproductive issues, diminished immune function, and elevated cancer risk. This has been observed even with very small doses of these forever chemicals.

According to Maaike van Gerwen, the research director at Icahn School of Medicine's Department of Otolaryngology, these forever chemicals have been produced ever since the 1940s and have been applied across various industries and consumer products.

These chemicals have been dubbed "forever chemicals" due to how they have a slow degradation rate and have been picked up in waterways, oceans, and soils all over the world. In fact, a 2023 study discovered that nearly half of the tap water in the US contains a certain PFAS form.

PFAS have incredible persistence. They never break down within the environment and stay in the human body for several years.

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