PFAS in Drinking Water Is a Bigger Problem Than You Think

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of synthetic compounds built around extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds. They're used to make products nonstick, waterproof, and stain-resistant A California biomonitoring study of 563 adults found that even low, detectable PFAS levels in public water systems were linked to 30% to 80% higher PFAS in blood PFAS aren't just in water — testing has found very high PFAS markers in soft contact lenses, wild freshwater fish, and some activewear leggings Health concerns linked to PFAS exposure include liver toxicity, immune and hormone disruption, cancer, high cholesterol, and developmental and reproductive effects You can reduce your personal exposure to PFAS by filtering your tap water, steering clear of most nonstick and stain-resistant products, and selecting PFAS-free personal care items