A new study from Yale School of Public Health found that “forever chemicals” found in tap water may spread cancer.
The per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in tap water accumulate in the human body, posing health risks.
“PFAS make up a prevalent class of persistent organic pollutants of increasing public concern worldwide,” said one of the authors. “They have been frequently detected in the environment, such as in drinking water, indoor dust, cleaning products, and coatings.”
The study analyzed the effects of colon cancer cells being exposed to a “forever chemical” solution.
Two types of colon cancer cells were used: an unmutated, “wild-type” cell, and a cell that carried a mutation known to become a cancerous tumor.
According to the research, bathing in the chemical mixture “boosted the cells’ migration ability,” indicating the possibility of metastasis.
“It doesn’t prove it’s metastasis, but they have increased motility, which is a feature of metastasis,” said Caroline Johnson, Ph.D.
Research from U.S. Geological Survey found that at least 45% of tap water in the United States is contaminated with “forever chemicals.”
“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,” USGS research hydrologist Kelly Smalling said in a statement.
“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. Furthermore, PFAS concentrations were similar between public supplies and private wells,” Smalling continued.
Urban areas showed the largest concentration of PFAS, primarily in the Great Plains, Great Lakes, Eastern Seaboard, and Central and Southern California.
