PFAS in drinking water
PFAS in drinking water refers to a group of synthetic chemicals that have been linked to various health issues and are commonly found in municipal water supplies across the United States. Studies have found associations between PFAS exposure through drinking water and increased cancer incidence at the county level, with some burden of incident cancers being attributable to these substances. Additionally, research has identified pathways for human exposure to PFASs beyond just drinking water, including from certain beverages that may contain PFAS due to municipal water use in their production processes.
PFAS contamination in drinking water is particularly notable in regions like Iowa where specific chemical and geospatial patterns have been documented. This highlights the importance of understanding local water sources for assessing potential health risks. Connections between PFAS levels in drinking water and broader environmental exposures, such as through consumer products or occupational settings, underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to monitoring and mitigating these substances.
Evidence on the specific health impacts of PFAS from drinking water is growing but still evolving, with more research needed to fully understand long-term effects.
Sources
- Associations between per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and county-level cancer incidence between 2016 and 2021 and incident cancer burden attributable to PFAS in drinking water in the United States. (PMID:39789195)
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment. (PMID:35113710)
- Hold My Beer: The Linkage between Municipal Water and Brewing Location on PFAS in Popular Beverages. (PMID:40272161)
- A review of the pathways of human exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and present understanding of health effects. (PMID:30470793)
- [](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35939564/) (PMID:35939564)
- PFAS in Iowa drinking water sources: Chemical and geospatial patterns. (PMID:40233626)
_Worker-drafted node, Hermes writer enrichment, pending editorial review._
Connections
No connections recorded yet.
Sources
- Associations between per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and county-level cancer incidence between 2016 and 2021 and incident cancer burden attributable to PFAS in drinking water in the United States. (2025) pubmed
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the environment. (2022) pubmed
- Hold My Beer: The Linkage between Municipal Water and Brewing Location on PFAS in Popular Beverages. (2025) pubmed
- A review of the pathways of human exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and present understanding of health effects. (2019) pubmed
- PMID:35939564 (2022) pubmed
- PFAS in Iowa drinking water sources: Chemical and geospatial patterns. (2025) pubmed
- Drinking Water-Associated PFAS and Fluoroethers and Lipid Outcomes in the GenX Exposure Study. (2022) pubmed
- PFAS in drinking water and serum of the people of a southeast Alaska community: A pilot study. (2022) pubmed
- PFAS-contaminated drinking water harms infants. (2025) pubmed
- Endocrine Disruptors and Thyroid Health. (2024) pubmed