Recent research has highlighted a concerning link between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals," in drinking water and increased cancer rates. These synthetic compounds, utilized extensively in manufacturing and consumer products for their grease and water-resistant properties, pose significant health risks due to their persistent nature in the environment.
PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals that have been widely used in various applications, from non-stick cookware to waterproof clothing. Their chemical structure, characterized by a strong fluorine-carbon bond, contributes to their durability, resulting in a half-life that can extend for decades. This long-lasting presence has earned them the moniker "forever chemicals."
Disturbingly, prior research indicates that approximately 45% of drinking water supplies in the United States may contain PFAS. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently does not regulate these chemicals. However, this is set to change in 2029 when the agency will begin enforcing maximum contaminant levels for six common PFAS in drinking water.
The recent study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, found that PFAS-contaminated water was associated with up to a 33% increase in the incidence of certain cancers. Researchers discovered that regions with higher levels of PFAS contamination experienced elevated incidences of various cancer types. This marks a significant step forward in understanding the health implications of PFAS exposure.
To gather their findings, researchers analyzed data collected from the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule Program during two distinct periods: 2013 to 2015 and again from 2023 to 2024. They compared this data with cancer statistics from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program spanning from 2016 to 2021. Importantly, they controlled for relevant factors such as smoking, obesity, and the presence of other pollutants to ensure the accuracy of their results.
Shiwen Li, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and the study's first author, emphasized the importance of these findings. According to Li, “It’s an important study, but it is a little bit limited in the sense that it is ecological in nature, meaning that individual patients were not measured for PFAS. Nor were cancer cases captured individually.”
Despite these limitations, Li believes that the study opens new avenues for further research. “This is really exploratory and an opportunity to screen for these cancer associations. Our study points in a new direction to some of the cancers that are less studied with PFAS, so it’s really important for other researchers to look at them,” she stated.
The implications of PFAS contamination extend beyond individual health risks. Experts argue that systemic changes are necessary to address this pervasive issue. “With an exposure that is so prevalent, it’s really difficult to make individual choices every day for you and your family to try to reduce exposure,” said Cardenas, a public health expert. “So this is where we need system-level changes and policies to achieve this.”
The urgency of addressing PFAS contamination cannot be overstated. As researchers continue to explore the link between these chemicals and cancer, public health advocates call for more stringent regulations and comprehensive testing of drinking water supplies.
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