Risk of tap water exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals higher in Southern California

Nearly 50% of the nation’s tap water is estimated to have at least one type of PFAS, a group of harmful “forever chemicals.” (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

Tap water in urban areas of Southern and Central California appears more likely to be contaminated by PFAS “forever chemicals” than drinking water in many other regions of the nation, although rural Californians are far less likely to suffer similar exposure, according to new research by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The newly released study is the latest to examine the prevalence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances — a vast group of manufactured chemicals that are drawing increasing scrutiny for their health risks, as well as their widespread prevalence in food, water, soil, air and work environments.

…drinking-water exposures may be more common in Southern and Central California, as well as the Great Plains, Great Lakes and Eastern Seaboard regions.

In what is considered to be the nation’s first large-scale analysis of PFAS in tap water from private wells and public water supplies, researchers estimated that at least 45% of drinking water across the nation could contain one or more of the chemicals. Study authors also concluded that drinking-water exposures may be more common in Southern and Central California, as well as the Great Plains, Great Lakes and Eastern Seaboard regions.

While study authors found an 8% probability that one or more of the chemicals would be detected in drinking water in rural areas, the detection probability skyrocketed to more than 70% in urban areas.

Kelly Smalling, research hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and the study’s lead author, said town and city residents are more likely to be exposed to PFAS because there are more people using everyday items that contain them. “There’s also more airports, industrial activities, military installations, even wastewater treatment plants that are all known sources,” she said.

Known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t degrade naturally in the environment, PFAS have been used since the 1940s and are ubiquitous. They can be found in such everyday items as nonstick cookware, dental floss, period underwear, fast food boxes, water-repellent clothing and firefighting foam.

Although their use has mostly been phased out in the U.S., their prevalence in the environment remains a concern. Exposure to high levels of some PFAS has been linked to […]

Full article: www.latimes.com