A “large fraction” of water sources around the world contain levels of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances that are above the drinking water advisory recommendations, a new study has claimed.
Commonly known as PFAS, these forever chemicals resist grease, stains, heat and water, meaning they do not degrade once they are in the environment.
The potentially harmful toxins are normally found in insecticides, food packaging, non-stick frying pans, cosmetics and clothing.
Prior research has found that PFAS can trigger the development of health conditions, such as some cancers.
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During the study, academics from the University of New South Wales in Australia examined the PFAS levels in surface and ground water around the world.
They discovered that many global water sources contain an unsafe level of PFAS forever chemicals.
Lead author Professor Denis O’Carroll said: “Many of our source waters are above PFAS regulatory limits.
“We already knew that PFAS is pervasive in the environment, but I was surprised to find out the large fraction of source waters that are above drinking water advisory recommendations. We’re talking above 5%, and it goes over 50% in some cases.”
Throughout the experiment, the researchers reviewed international databases, government reports and peer-reviewed literature.
Traces of PFAS were most commonly found in dams, rather than drinking water itself, according to the results.
However, Sydney Water and other water providers do not calculate how many forever chemicals are in drinking water.
Professor O’Carroll said: “Drinking water is largely safe, and I don’t hesitate drinking it. I also don’t suggest that bottled water is better, because it doesn’t mean that they’ve done anything differently than what comes out of the tap. But I certainly think that monitoring PFAS levels and making the data easily available is worthwhile.”
According to the researchers, most of the global population are unlikely to have a high level of PFAS in their bodies.
Forever chemicals are associated with altered sex hormone levels, lower birth weight in babies, higher levels of cholesterol, reduced kidney function, reduced vaccine response and thyroid disease.
In addition, they are linked with liver, kidney and testicular cancers, the study has reported.
Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) described a type of PFAS – PFOA – as a category one human carcinogen.
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Professor O’Carroll said: “Two forms of PFAS initially raised concerns about 20 years ago: PFOS and PFOA.
“These chemicals are regulated to different extents around the world. In the US, the proposed drinking water limits for PFOS and PFOA are four nanograms per litre.”
He concluded: “There’s debate about what level PFAS should be regulated to. Australia has much higher limits than the US, but the question is why.
“Both health bodies would have different reasoning for that, and there’s not a really strong consensus here.
“There’s a real unknown amount of PFAS that we’re not measuring in the environment. Commercial products like garments and food packaging have a lot more PFAS in them than we realise. This means we’re likely underestimating the environmental burden posed by PFAS.”
Read the study in full in the journal Nature Geoscience.
