Toxic ‘forever’ chemicals found in excessive levels in global groundwater, study says

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1. Potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in surface and groundwaters around the world at levels much higher than many international regulators allow, a new study found.

   Called “forever chemicals” because they fail to break down fully in the environment, PFAS have been used since the 1950s to make consumer products nonstick, oil- and water-repellent and resistant to temperature change.

   Even in locations with no known source of contamination, 31% of ground water samples exceeded threshold limits proposed in March 2023 by the US Environmental Protection Agency, according to the study, and nearly 70% exceeded standards set by Health Canada.

   The EPA proposal, soon expected to be finalized, set a specific limit of 4 parts per trillion for two older legacy chemicals, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), while also setting new limits for a mixture of four chemicals developed by industry to replace them.

   Some of the most studied PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, have been linked to serious health problems such as cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage and hormone disruption, according to the EPA.

   Exposure to PFAS is associated with decreased infant and fetal growth as well as decreased antibody response to vaccines in both adults and children, according to a 300-plus-page report released in July 2022 by the prestigious National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

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