PFAS in Drinking Water Is a Bigger Problem Than You Think

• Study design and sample description — The analysis included 563 adults representing the general population instead of high-exposure industrial communities, with 54% primarily drinking tap water.³

• How PFAS were measured and linked — PFAS levels in participants’ blood were compared with contamination data from California’s statewide PFAS monitoring program, which measured 18 PFAS compounds in 70 public water systems between 2019 and 2022. Researchers linked each participant’s home address to their local water system to estimate exposure based on 12 PFAS measured in blood samples.⁴

• PFAS were found in almost all blood samples — Although overall levels were lower than U.S. averages, approximately 86% of participants still had concentrations linked to health risks.⁵ Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) were found to be the most common types.

• PFAS thrive in specific areas — Around 56% of participants used water systems where at least one PFAS was detected. Airports, military bases, and landfills were the main sources of contamination.⁶

• How PFAS in water affected blood levels — Among all compounds measured, PFHxS has the strongest association to blood levels. People whose water system had PFHxS had blood levels about 31.9% higher than those in systems without it. Where PFHxS was found in at least half of sampling locations, blood levels were roughly 64% higher.

Even when the water had already undergone treatment, detectable PFAS were still associated with noticeably higher levels in people’s blood — about 79.9% higher for PFHxS, 30.4% for PFOA, 31.2% for PFOS, and 42% for the combined group of five PFAS (∑5 PFAS).⁷

• The key takeaway — The study shows that even small amounts of PFAS in drinking water can raise blood levels. People who mainly drank tap water had the highest levels of PFAS in their blood, confirming drinking water as a primary exposure route. Those who primarily drank bottled water generally had lower overall PFAS levels.⁸

• These findings can open the doors for deeper understanding — The authors call for stricter PFAS regulations, expanded monitoring, improved water treatment technologies, and efforts to identify and control non-industrial PFAS sources.

“Future studies should also investigate other PFAS analytes beyond legacy and long-chain compounds, consider other exposure sources including diet, consumer products, and indoor dust, and include drinking water sampling from rural areas,” they noted.⁹

• Not a modern marvel — Most people think PFAS were invented in the 1960s or 1970s, but they’ve been around for nearly a century. Their origins trace back to the Manhattan Project, the top-secret U.S. program in the 1940s to build the atomic bomb. Bloomberg reporter Tiffany Kary explains:¹¹

“After the war, companies began experimenting with these chemicals. One company had a scientist who accidentally splashed some of it on their canvas shoes. They discovered the chemicals had stain-proof and waterproof properties. That company was 3M.”

• A vast chemical family — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes more than 14,000 PFAS structures. These man-made chemicals share a unique trait — carbon-fluorine bonds, which are “some of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry,” says Laurel Schaider, senior scientist at the Silent Spring Institute.¹²

• The hidden cost of convenience — Their greaseproof, stainproof, and waterproof qualities made PFAS indispensable for decades. But what seemed like innovation has left us with chemicals that don’t exist in nature, can’t be destroyed, and may be harming our health in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

“It’s hard to even talk to people about these chemicals and tell them, ‘Look, there’s a chemical that’s in you that’s not found anywhere in nature.’ These chemicals are found in 99% of people,” Kary said.

“It just sounds crazy. Tell people that these are also forever chemicals, that we’ve created a chemical that we don’t know how to destroy, it sounds even stranger.”

• These chemicals have staying power — According to the EPA, PFOA and PFOS are the most studied types, and both persist in the environment and the human body. PFOA and PFOS have been detected in 99% of U.S. blood samples¹³ — these chemicals stay in your body for years, where they bind to proteins and accumulate in organs like your liver and brain.¹⁴

• Soft contact lenses — The wellness site Mamavation, working with Environmental Health News,¹⁵ tested 18 popular soft contact lens brands at an EPA-certified lab after readers asked whether lenses contain PFAS. All 18 samples were positive for organic fluorine (a PFAS marker), ranging from 105 to 20,700 parts per million (ppm). Around 44% had more than 4,000 ppm, and 22% had above 18,000 ppm.¹⁶

PFAS are likely added as fluoropolymers to keep lenses soft, breathable, and comfortable, but they may be delivering huge PFAS doses directly to the eye. As toxicologist Pete Myers explains:¹⁷

“The presumption that these organic fluorine levels measured in contact lenses are safe is laughable. Last summer the EPA issued health advisories in drinking for four common PFAS, ranging from 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) to 2000 ppt. EPA considers exposure beneath these thresholds to be safe for drinking water …

While comparing drinking levels in water to concentrations in contact lenses is like comparing apples to oranges, it’s worth noting that all of the contact lenses tested exceeded 100 ppm, which is equivalent to 100,000,000 ppt, or 50,000 times higher than the highest level deemed safe in drinking water by the EPA.”

• Activewear — Mamavation also investigated whether popular leggings and yoga pants contain PFAS in fabrics that sit closest to the skin. The group sent 32 pairs of activewear, primarily workout leggings and yoga pants.¹⁸

About 25% of the products tested had detectable levels of organic fluorine, ranging from 10 to 284 ppm. The highest concentration was found in the crotch area of LulaRoe leggings at 284 ppm. The remaining 75% of products showed no detectable levels.

Pete Myers, Chief Scientist at Environmental Health Sciences, adjunct professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, explains:¹⁹

“While we know that PFAS can be absorbed through the skin we don’t have much information about how much would be transferred from activewear products. It’s unlikely to be 0.”

• Freshwater fish — An analysis by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) of more than 500 fish fillets from U.S. rivers, lakes, and streams found a median PFAS level of 9,500 nanograms per kilogram (ng/kg), and 11,800 ng/kg in fish from the Great Lakes.²⁰ Study author and EWG senior scientist David Andrews, Ph.D., commented:²¹

“People who consume freshwater fish, especially those who catch and eat fish regularly, are at risk of alarming levels of PFAS in their bodies … Growing up, I went fishing every week and ate those fish. But now when I see fish, all I think about is PFAS contamination.”

Eating just one serving of freshwater fish per year can expose you to as much PFOS as a month of drinking water contaminated at 48 parts per trillion. PFAS levels in these wild fish were about 280 times higher than those found in store-bought seafood and processed foods, and roughly equal to eating supermarket fish every day for a year.

• Food packaging — PFAS chemicals are often found in grease-resistant wrappers and containers used for fast food and processed products. This includes pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, candy wrappers,²² and packaging from stores like Whole Foods.

A 2018 investigation by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, and Toxic-Free Future found that Whole Foods Market was the worst offender among the paper food-contact products they tested, with elevated fluorine levels — a marker for PFAS — in five of 17 items, including four containers from its salad and hot food bar.²³

Another study revealed that about one-third of 400 fast-food wrappers contained fluorine, indicating PFAS use. These chemicals migrate into food and persist in compost and landfills, despite safer alternatives being available.²⁴

• Other sources of forever chemicals — PFAS are sneaky, which is why you need to wise up and recognize how easily you can expose yourself to them. An article in Time Magazine lists the following sources:²⁵

• Liver and metabolic impacts, such as liver toxicity, malfunction, and disruption of lipid metabolism

• Immune and endocrine disruption, including reduced immune response against infections, hypothyroidism, and interference with hormones

• Tumors in multiple organs and increased risk of testicular, kidney, and prostate cancers

• Developmental and reproductive effects, including neonatal toxicity, reduced birth weight, delayed puberty, and decreased fertility

• Other chronic conditions, such as high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, obesity, and adverse neurobehavioral effects

• Reverse osmosis — This system pushes water through an ultra-fine membrane. Clean water passes through, while PFAS and other contaminants stay behind. It’s highly effective but can be costly and waste some water during the process.

• Activated carbon filtration — These filters use tiny charcoal particles to trap PFAS as water flows through. They’re common in pitchers and faucet attachments, but their effectiveness depends on filter quality and regular replacement.

• Ion exchange — This method works like a magnet for PFAS. Water passes through a material that attracts and binds the chemicals. A promising version uses zeolite, a natural mineral with lots of surface area, making it reusable and eco-friendly.

• Skip stain-repellent fabrics — These include clothing, carpets, and furniture treated for stain resistance. Even “breathable” fabrics may use PTFE (Teflon). Choose untreated textiles or natural fibers like cotton, wool, or linen for a safer alternative.

• Avoid flame-retardant treatments — Furniture, mattresses, carpets, and baby products are common sources. Instead, opt for naturally less flammable materials such as leather, wool, or cotton to reduce chemical exposure without sacrificing safety.

• Ditch microwave popcorn bags — The inner lining of these bags can leach PFAS into the oil during heating. A healthier swap is to make stovetop popcorn using non-GMO kernels in a stainless steel or cast-iron pot.

• Replace nonstick cookware — Safer choices include ceramic or enameled cast iron, which are durable, easy to clean, and free from harmful coatings.

• Check your personal care products — PFAS often hide in items like dental floss and cosmetics under names like PTFE or “fluoro” compounds. Use resources like the EWG Skin Deep database²⁹ to find cleaner alternatives that protect your health.

• Add beta-glucan-rich foods to your diet — Beta-glucan, a soluble fiber found in oats, barley, rye, wheat, mushrooms, seaweed, and nutritional yeast, can help bind PFAS in your digestive tract so you excrete them. A study showed an 8% drop in PFAS levels after four weeks of beta-glucan intake.³⁰