Population-Wide Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Drinking Water in the United States
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Level 4 by design analogy: ecological exposure modeling using secondary public datasets.
OpenAlex W3093401287 · doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00713
What was done
The authors analyzed publicly accessible datasets on the occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in United States drinking water, using data with analytical detection limits below 1 ng/L to evaluate national population-level exposure.
What was found
PFAS mixtures were found to be nearly ubiquitous in surface water. An estimated 18 to 80 million people in the United States receive tap water with combined perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) concentrations of 10 ng/L or greater. Over 200 million people likely receive drinking water with combined PFOA and PFOS at or above 1 ng/L. Occurrence showed substantial variation within and between states.
Why it matters
This analysis demonstrates that PFAS contamination in US drinking water is widespread at low concentrations, exposing tens to hundreds of millions of people to levels exceeding multiple state regulatory and guidance thresholds.
Limits
The study relies on modeling from secondary, non-uniform publicly available datasets rather than systematic national sampling. Individual ingestion rates and biological exposure markers were not measured.
Cited by
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that more than 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals through drinking tap water.
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that more than 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals through tap water.
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that over 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals through tap water.
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that over 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS forever chemicals through drinking tap water.
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that over 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals through tap water.
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that more than 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals through tap water.
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that over 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals through tap water.
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that over 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS chemicals through tap water.
- supports A 2020 study by the Environmental Working Group estimated that over 200 million Americans are exposed to PFAS forever chemicals via drinking tap water.