Neighborhoods in the United States with drinking water contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” face up to a 33% higher risk of certain cancers, according to research conducted by the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC).
The study identified a significant correlation between PFAS in drinking water and the incidence of rare cancers, estimating that these chemicals may contribute to between 4,000 and 7,000 new cancer cases annually. Researchers noted that counties with drinking water exceeding the recommended maximum PFAS levels reported a higher prevalence of digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and oral cancers.
“These findings allow us to draw an initial conclusion about the link between certain rare cancers and PFAS,” said Dr. Shiwen Li, a researcher at the Keck School of Medicine, in a news release. “This suggests that it’s worth researching each of these links in a more individualized and precise way.”
PFAS, synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial applications, have been detected in approximately 45% of drinking water supplies across the U.S., according to the study. Due to their chemical stability and resistance to degradation, PFAS persist in the environment and accumulate in human bodies, raising serious health concerns.
In response to the growing public health implications, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to begin monitoring levels of six specific types of PFAS in drinking water starting in 2029. However, the study’s authors suggest that even stricter limits may be necessary to protect public health effectively.
“When people hear that PFAS is associated with cancer, it’s hard to know how it’s relevant,” Dr. Li explained. “By calculating the number of attributable cancer cases, we’re able to estimate how many people may be affected.”
The study underscores the urgent need for further research into PFAS exposure and its health impacts, with researchers advocating for targeted studies to explore the links between specific cancers and PFAS contamination.
