In recent years, PFAS has emerged as a significant environmental concern in the United States. Often referred to as "forever chemicals," they pose a serious public health crisis.
PFAS are found in everyday products like non-stick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, and firefighting foam. They are notorious for persisting in the environment and are linked to severe health conditions.
What is PFAS?
PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals known for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. They include thousands of compounds, with PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) being among the most studied.
How PFAS Contamination Happens and Its Health Effects
PFAS are primarily introduced into the environment through industrial discharge and firefighting foam, also known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). They also enter through the disposal of consumer goods containing these chemicals.
They infiltrate water sources, soil, and air, contaminating ecosystems and, ultimately, human drinking water supplies. Firefighting foam, commonly used in military and airport training exercises, is one of the most significant contributors to PFAS contamination.
Once in the environment, PFAS are difficult to remove due to their long-lasting chemical structure. Exposure to these chemicals, even at low levels, has been linked to various health problems, including cancer, particularly kidney and testicular cancers. They are also associated with thyroid disorders, liver damage, and developmental issues in children.
The widespread PFAS contamination has led to numerous lawsuits against manufacturers like 3M and DuPont, who are accused of knowingly polluting communities. Among these legal actions is the AFFF foam cancer lawsuit, in which plaintiffs allege that exposure to firefighting foam has caused various cancers.
As per TorHoerman Law, this lawsuit also challenges government authorities on their responsibility to address PFAS contamination from firefighting foam. It underscores the urgent need for effective cleanup and regulatory measures.
Now, let’s examine four U.S. states grappling with significant PFAS contamination.
1. Michigan
For many residents of Michigan, PFAS contamination has become an everyday reality. According to Michigan Advance, the state has identified over 11,000 potential PFAS contamination sites. These include car washes, fire stations, oil refineries, plastic and paper mills, military bases, landfills, and more.
According to Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), an estimated 1.5 million residents have been drinking water contaminated by PFAS.
Michigan has been proactive in addressing the issue, being the first state to test every public drinking water supply for PFAS. The state also implemented its own drinking water standards in 2020, ahead of the federal government.
Following the EPA’s recent national drinking water standard for PFAS, Michigan lawmakers have committed to intensifying efforts to eliminate these toxic chemicals. They are determined to continue addressing PFAS contamination in the state. Nevertheless, the scale of contamination, potentially affecting over 11,000 sites, highlights the enormous challenges ahead.
2. North Carolina
North Carolina faces severe PFAS contamination, especially in the Cape Fear River Basin. Industrial facilities, such as Chemours, have been significant sources of this pollution. In 2024, the EPA set a maximum contaminant level of 4.0 parts per trillion for certain PFAS chemicals. However, contamination in North Carolina often exceeds this threshold. Currently, the state’s combined maximum contaminant level for PFOA and PFOS is set at 70 parts per trillion, North Carolina Health News reports.
Nearly 36 percent of North Carolinians rely on public water systems that have been found to contain unsafe levels of PFAS. Additionally, nearly 800,000 residents rely on private wells, and around 25 percent of these wells also show contamination levels above the set thresholds.
North Carolina’s regulatory agencies are pushing for stronger measures and enhanced cleanup efforts. Despite these efforts, the extent of contamination in both public and private water systems remains staggering.
3. California
California has been actively monitoring PFAS contamination in drinking water. This includes checking potential hotspots like landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, oil and gas operations, metal plating sites, and airports.
A 2021 report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) analyzed early data from this monitoring, highlighting that pollution is widespread across the state. The issue is particularly severe in communities already burdened by multiple pollution sources, making them especially vulnerable to PFAS exposure.
An updated analysis of data from 2019 to 2023 shows that PFAS contamination now affects water systems serving up to 25.4 million Californians. This marks a significant increase from the previous estimate of 16 million. Notably, disadvantaged communities remain disproportionately affected, with up to 8.9 million residents in these areas potentially impacted.
The current data cover about 28.7 million Californians, or approximately 73 percent of the state’s population. This suggests that PFAS contamination is likely to increase as testing continues.
4. New York
In New York, about 50% of public water systems have detected some level of PFAS contamination, as reported by NRDC. Around 250 of these systems have exceeded state standards for PFOA and PFOS.
Long Island is particularly hard-hit, and about 2 million New Yorkers using private wells remain unaware of the contamination in their drinking water.
With the EPA's newly stricter drinking water standards, the number of New York water systems with dangerous PFAS levels is expected to double.
The New York State Health Department forecasts that 548 public water systems will exceed federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). This will require over a billion dollars in investment and millions more for ongoing maintenance to upgrade the treatment infrastructure.
What recent findings have been reported about PFAS exposure in U.S. drinking water?
Recent assessments by the EPA have found that around 70 million people in the U.S. are affected by harmful PFAS chemicals. However, this testing has only covered about one-third of the nation’s public water systems, indicating that actual exposure could be more widespread.
What are the primary methods for removing PFAS from drinking water?
The main methods used to remove PFAS from drinking water are activated carbon filtration, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis. Activated carbon adsorbs PFAS; ion exchange uses resins to replace PFAS ions, and reverse osmosis filters PFAS through a semi-permeable membrane.
Overall, PFAS contamination has become a critical public health issue in many U.S. states, threatening millions of Americans’ drinking water. States like Michigan, North Carolina, California, and New York are leading the fight, pushing for stricter regulations, enhanced cleanup efforts, and holding manufacturers accountable.
These states' efforts highlight the need for continued vigilance and strong federal support for safe drinking water.
Addressing the PFAS crisis will require a collective commitment to both immediate remediation and long-term prevention to protect public health and the environment.