A brand new research means that faucet water from practically 45% of taps within the U.S. might include “forever chemicals” often called PFAS (per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances).
These substances “break down very slowly and can build up,” resulting in “adverse health outcomes” like “increased risk of some cancers,” per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
PFAS “Could Be Present In Nearly Half Of The Tap Water In The U.S.”
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shared its findings earlier this yr, and the company launched a assertion concerning the analysis on Wednesday (July 5).
The research concerned researchers testing faucet water collected from 716 areas throughout all 50 states between 2016-2021. Additionally, they examined faucet water from choose Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands areas.
Notably, whereas “there are more than 12,000 types of PFAS,” the USGS research solely “tested for the presence of 32 types.”
Even with this scope, researchers declared, “We estimate that at least one PFAS could be detected in about 45% of U.S. drinking-water samples.”
USGS researcher and lead creator Kelly Smalling referred to as the investigation “the most comprehensive study to date on PFAS in tap water.”
“USGS scientists tested water collected directly from people’s kitchen sinks across the nation, providing the most comprehensive study to date on PFAS in tap water from both private wells and public supplies.”
Smalling continued, emphasizing that the outcomes counsel that PFAS “could be present in nearly half of the tap water in the U.S.” And that’s solely with scientists monitoring 32 of them!
“The study estimates that at least one type of PFAS – of those that were monitored – could be present in nearly half of the tap water in the U.S. Furthermore, PFAS concentrations were similar between public supplies and private wells.”
Difference In Rates Between Urban & Rural Areas
On prime of the general faucet water share, the research additionally discovered that publicity charges elevated close to city areas, as they have an inclination to include extra “potential PFAS sources.”
The authors word that geographical areas with “most of the exposure” included “the Great Plains, Great Lakes, Eastern Seaboard, and Central/Southern California regions.”
Furthermore, the researchers declared, “USGS scientists estimate that the probability of PFAS not being observed in tap water is about 75% in rural areas and around 25% in urban areas.”
However, the EPA says individuals can discover PFAS “in many places,” so it looks as if altogether avoiding the “forever chemicals” could be fairly the problem.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) notes, “It is also possible for very small amounts of PFAS to enter foods through food packaging, processing, and cookware.”