Despite a decline in the use of chemicals in recent years, it remains difficult to break them down, so they still exist in some foods, water, and consumer products. A study published in the journal "Nature Geoscience" found higher levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water in certain parts of the United States. PFAS are a group of chemicals used during industrial processes and in the manufacturing of consumer products. One of the ways that individuals can be exposed to these chemicals is through drinking water.
The health risks associated with PFAS include a number of diseases, primarily cancers, elevated liver enzymes, low birth weight, heart problems, high cholesterol, as well as immune and developmental damage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
#### Exceeding Safety Standards
To determine the prevalence of PFAS in the environment, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney analyzed a global dataset comprising 273 studies dating back to 2004. The studies included data from over 12,000 surface water samples (water that collects on the ground) and more than 33,900 groundwater samples. Dennis O'Carroll, a professor of engineering at UNSW and the lead author of the study, told Fox News, "We searched everywhere for PFAS concentrations in water data, including scientific journals, government reports, and websites." He added, "We compared the PFAS concentrations in these water samples with international regulations. We also compared the types of PFAS analyzed to what we found in consumer products."
In the United States, "hot spots" for PFAS are concentrated in the Midwest, New England, and the West Coast, although the chemicals have also been detected in other areas across the country. Globally, Australia, Europe, and China have shown high levels of these substances.
#### Chemicals in the Blood
Dr. Mark Fisher, the regional medical director of a company specializing in health and security risk mitigation based in London, noted that most Americans also have these chemicals in their blood. Fisher, who is involved in the UNSW study, stated, "Despite the decline in the use of these chemicals in recent years, it is difficult to break them down, so they still exist in some foods, water, consumer products, as well as in the soil and environment." Most individuals in the United States are likely exposed to these chemicals through contaminated food or drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fisher emphasizes that these hard-to-destroy substances are also present in soil and the environment.
#### Establishing Chemical Limits
The EPA has finalized new limits on the amount of PFAS allowed in drinking water. The agency stated that the new standards could reduce exposure for 100 million people, potentially preventing thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of serious illnesses. The agency noted that this is "the first national enforceable drinking water standard" to protect people from health risks associated with PFAS.
