Research report: Nearly half of tap water in the United States contains "permanent chemicals" City | Region | United States
According to a report by The Capitol Hill on July 5th local time, a new research report released by the United States Geological Survey shows that at least 45% of tap water in the United States contains toxic perfluorinated and perfluoroalkyl substances. Due to its non degradability in the environment and human body, PFAS is also known as a "permanent chemical substance".
Research has shown that urban areas face a greater risk of PFAS pollution than rural areas. About 70% of urban areas or areas with a known history of PFAS pollution have detected PFAS, while the proportion of PFAS detected in rural areas is 8%. The study also found that these substances are more commonly present in the Great Plains, Great Lakes, East Coast, and central and southern regions of California.
The study also shows that even consuming small amounts of PFAS can increase health risks such as cancer.