A recently conducted study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has unveiled unsettling findings, indicating that a minimum of 45 percent of tap water in the United States could be tainted with per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” These synthetic chemicals, known for their enduring nature, are employed in a variety of applications, ranging from the linings of fast-food containers and non-stick cookware to firefighting foams, pesticides, cosmetic creams, furnishing textiles, and outdoor apparel.
Bengt Rittri, the founder and CEO of Bluewater, a global beverage and water purification company, described the USGS findings as both shocking and alarming. PFAS has been detected in tap and bottled water worldwide, with numerous adverse health effects attributed to these substances.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cautioned that high concentrations of PFAS chemicals have been linked to increased risks of conditions such as high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, kidney or testicular cancer, elevated cholesterol levels, and damage to the immune system.
The issue of PFAS contamination extends beyond the United States. The European Environment Agency has reported the presence of PFAS in the environment throughout Europe, contaminating drinking water supplies in several countries. In some highly polluted areas, concentrations of specific PFAS chemicals have exceeded the limit values proposed in the 2018 recast of the EU Drinking Water Directive. Additionally, a 2021 study conducted by Tsinghua University in China revealed that nearly 100 million individuals had been exposed to water containing toxic levels of chemicals that surpassed safety thresholds.
Mr. Rittri emphasised the long-lasting consequences of PFAS contamination, noting that even if the release of these toxic chemicals ceased immediately, they would persist in the environment and in humans for generations, as cautioned by the European Chemicals Agency.
Rich Razgaitis, CEO of Bluewater North America, echoed Mr. Rittri’s concerns, highlighting the urgent need for schools, businesses, and consumers to take water purification into their own hands to ensure safe water in their daily lives.
According to the USGS, this recent research is the first comprehensive examination of PFAS in tap water from both private and government-regulated public water supplies throughout the United States. The collected data were utilised to model and estimate nationwide PFAS contamination. Due to their slow breakdown, PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” The USGS emphasised the unique water-quality concerns associated with PFAS, given their persistence in the environment and widespread prevalence.
In their study, USGS scientists directly collected tap water samples from kitchen sinks at 716 locations representing areas with varying degrees of human impact. They discovered that interim health advisories released by the U.S. EPA in 2022 for certain PFAS compounds, including PFOS and PFOA, were exceeded in all samples where they were detected. The study utilised a method developed by the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory to test for 32 individual PFAS compounds.
Bluewater conducted independent tests confirming that their purifiers can effectively remove up to 99.99% of PFAS chemicals, including PFOA, PFOS, PFBA, and PFBS, which have been found in tap water across communities worldwide. The research was conducted in a laboratory at the prestigious Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (KTH) and verified by the independent bio-analytical testing group Eurofins.
Dr. Ahmed Fawzy, a senior research scientist at Bluewater, conducted the tests at KTH, which were then verified by Eurofins. Dr. Fawzy emphasised the scarcity of detailed information regarding the specific PFAS used in various applications and their extent of use. Given this uncertainty, Bluewater independently tested the PFAS removal efficiency of their Bluewater Pro water purifier.
Dr. Fawzy explained, “By deliberately contaminating the water entering the Bluewater Pro with PFAS at concentrations exceeding average levels and subsequently passing it through the purifier, we obtained unequivocal results. Bluewater’s second-generation SuperiorOsmosis™ technology demonstrated the ability to remove up to 99.99 percent of all the tested PFAS chemicals.”
PFAS have been shown to accumulate over time in humans and the environment. The European Environment Agency describes PFAS as moderately to highly toxic, particularly affecting children’s development. Furthermore, a study published in Environmental Sciences Europe highlighted that approximately 100 million people across 66 cities in China were consuming tap water with unsafe levels of PFAS in mid-January 2021.
