New Government Study Finds Nearly Half of U.S. Tap Water Contaminated With Forever Chemicals

by M.C. Millman 

Fifteen months after finding that forever chemicals are potentially more harmful than scientists thought, as reported by Rockland Daily here, a new study from the U.S. Geological Survey reports that nearly half the tap water in the U.S. is contaminated with forever chemicals. 

Forever chemicals are also known as PFAS. Their name is particularly apropos as forever chemicals barely degrade in the natural environment. The chemicals can be found in paper and cardboard food packaging, including take-out containers and microwave popcorn bags; nonstick cookware; waterproof textiles; cosmetics; hair products; electronics; drinking water, and in our soil. 

PFAS  are known to stick around in the human body and in the environment indefinitely and have been linked with cancer in animal studies. However, it has been difficult to conduct similar human studies. 

While the study suggests that 45% of tap water in the U.S. is contaminated with forever chemicals that refrigerator and Brita-style filters don't remove, the percentage might be even higher. This is because the researchers couldn't test for all the 12,000 types of PFAS chemicals thought to endanger human health. Instead, the study could only pick up on thirty-two PFAS varieties.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to PFAS is linked to cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, liver damage, and hormone suppression.