TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — The U.S. Geological Survey – a government agency tasked with monitoring natural resources – warns that at least 45 percent of the nation’s tap water is polluted with PFAS, an acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS are chemicals found in many common materials, such as in the linings of fast-food boxes and non-stick cookware. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that there are thousands of PFAS chemicals found in a wide variety of consumer, commercial and industrial products. Some of these chemicals were previously used to make products resist stains, water and grease, as well as a fire retardant.
The agency tested water for 32 different PFAS chemicals in 716 locations across the country.
A VARIETY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS
"USGS scientists tested water collected directly from people’s kitchen sinks across the nation, providing the most comprehensive study to date on PFAS in tap water from both private wells and public supplies,” said USGS research hydrologist Kelly Smalling.
“The study estimates that at least one type of PFAS – of those that were monitored – could be present in nearly half of the tap water in the U.S.,” Smalling explained.
The EPA states that PFAS can cause a wide variety of health problems. These include decreased fertility in women, developmental disorders in children, increased risk of prostate, kidney and testicular cancers, weakened immune system, hormone imbalance as well as increased cholesterol levels and obesity. According to the EPA, these effects have been shown in peer-reviewed scientific studies.
FLORIDA AMONG THE WORST
Tap water in Florida is some of the nation’s most contaminated, the Miami Herald reported in 2019. According to a study from 2017, Florida was the second-worst state in the nation, behind Texas, when it came to violations of drinking water standards.
The Florida Standard reached out to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to learn about their work to secure safe tap water for residents of the Sunshine State, but the agency failed to provide a timely response.
To see what’s in the tap water where you live, visit https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ and enter your zip code.
