- Water containing PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” may be linked to a higher incidence of various forms of cancer.
- Cancers associated with PFAS-contaminated water include oral cavity/pharynx, brain, thyroid, and endocrine.
- PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals used in manufacturing and consumer goods. They are known for their water — and stain-resistant qualities.
PFAS, more commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in the water supply in the United States is widespread.
Now, scientists have linked that water containing these chemicals could increase the incidence of multiple forms of cancer.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, researchers found that PFAS-contaminated water was associated with up to a 33% increase in the incidence of certain cancers, including rare forms.
PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl) substances are a class of thousands of chemicals widely used in manufacturing and consumer goods. Prized for their water and stain-resistant properties, PFAS are found in everything from furniture to fast food packaging.
However, those properties also mean that PFAS persist in the environment and the human body. As they linger in the human body, they have a range of deleterious effects in addition to cancer risk. Those risks include harm to reproductive health, developmental delays in children, and increased risk of obesity.
Shiwen Li, PhD, the first author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, told Healthline that their findings should encourage more interest in the link between PFAS-contaminated water and cancer.
“This is really exploratory and an opportunity to screen for these cancer associations. Our study points in a new direction to some of the cancers that are less studied with PFAS, so it’s really important for other researchers to look at them,” said Li.
Prior research has estimated that PFAS may be found in about 45% of US drinking water supplies. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not regulate PFAS, though that will change in 2029 when the agency begins enforcing maximum contaminant levels for six common PFAS in drinking water.
PFAS led to 33% increase in cancer incidence
Li and his team undertook the large task of sifting through county-level water contamination and ecological data for PFAS using the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule Program from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2023 to 2024.
They then compared regions with PFAS levels that exceeded recommendations with cancer data from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Program from 2016 to 2021. After overlaying these two data sets and controlling for relevant factors like smoking, obesity, and the presence of other pollutants, the researchers found that areas with PFAS contamination experienced higher incidences of different forms of cancer.
Those cancers include digestive, endocrine, oral cavity/pharynx, and respiratory system. The incidence rate varied from 2% up to 33% — with oral cavity/pharynx cancer representing the highest increase.
Additionally, the cancers associated with PFAS-contaminated water also varied by sex. Males had a higher incidence of the urinary system, brain, soft tissues, and leukemia. Females experienced higher rates of thyroid, oral cavity/pharynx, and soft tissue cancer.
However, these findings should be considered preliminary or exploratory, cautioned Andres Cardenas, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford Medicine. Cardenas wasn’t involved in the study.
“It’s an important study, but it is a little bit limited in the sense that it is ecological in nature, meaning that individual patients were not measured for PFAS. Nor were cancer cases captured individually,” he said.
The study does not establish a causal link between PFAS and cancer.
What are PFAS?
Commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their durable nature, PFAS are chemicals used in manufacturing a wide range of industrial products and consumer goods. These include:
- fire extinguishing foam
- food packaging
- furniture and upholstery
- shampoos and cosmetics
- non-stick cookware
- paint and sealants
“The reason they are so good at making things grease and water resistant is that they have a very strong chemical bond, the fluorine carbon bond. They are called ‘forever chemicals’ because of their very long half-life,” said Li.
PFAS can linger in the natural environment for thousands of years and in the human body for three years or more, according to some estimates.
Needless to say, those chemicals building up inside your body aren’t exactly a good thing. PFAS have been linked to a range of health problems, most notably those of the endocrine system. PFAS disrupt the endocrine system, which regulates important bodily functions through the release of hormones.
Through endocrine disruption, PFAS may:
- harm the liver and kidney
- harm reproductive health
- cause tumors and cancer
- increase the risk of obesity
- alter cholesterol levels
How to limit PFAS exposure
Individuals can become exposed to PFAS through the environment, such as drinking water, but also through direct contact with products they use every day.
Due to the widespread use of these chemicals, the best strategies to limit exposure to PFAS aren’t well understood. Here are some steps you can take:
- Look into a local or county-level water report to see if PFAS are monitored where you live.
- Install a water filter to screen for PFAS and other contaminants.
- Limit your exposure to PFAS in food and food packaging by avoiding non-stick products and fast food.
Even with these recommendations in mind, completely limiting PFAS exposure is unlikely.
“With an exposure that is so prevalent, it’s really difficult to make individual choices every day for you and your family to try to reduce exposure. So this is where we need system level changes and policies to achieve this,” said Cardenas.
Takeaway
PFAS, a class of water-resistant chemicals found in manufacturing and consumer products, contaminate nearly half of U.S. water supplies.
A novel study has now linked PFAS-contaminated water with increased incidence of cancer, including oral cavity/pharynx, brain, and endocrine, up to 33%.
The exploratory study does not establish a causal link between PFAS and cancer but should encourage further research in this area.
It is difficult to avoid PFAS exposure, but individuals may consider installing a water filtration system and avoiding certain products, including fast food packaging and non-stick cookware.
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