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A groundbreaking study from the Keck School of Medicine of USC has found that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water is associated with a significantly higher incidence of certain cancers. The research, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, is the first to examine the direct relationship between PFAS contamination and cancer in U.S. drinking water.
PFAS are chemicals widely used in products like furniture, food packaging, and non-stick cookware. Unfortunately, these substances are persistent in the environment, accumulating in both the body and drinking water supplies over time. Approximately 45% of drinking water supplies in the United States are contaminated with PFAS, raising concerns about their long-term health impacts.
The study’s findings, based on data collected between 2016 and 2021, suggest that communities with PFAS-contaminated drinking water have up to a 33% higher incidence of specific cancers. The researchers focused on population-level data, examining patterns of exposure and the related cancer risks. Their analysis revealed that PFAS contamination contributes to over 6,800 cancer cases annually in the U.S., based on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Dr. Shiwen (Sherlock) Li, the lead author of the study, emphasized that these findings provide an initial connection between PFAS and certain rare cancers. “Our study suggests that these chemicals may be contributing to higher cancer rates in areas with contaminated drinking water, warranting further research to explore these links in more detail.”
The research identified a wide range of cancers linked to PFAS contamination. Digestive, endocrine, respiratory, mouth, and throat cancers showed a higher incidence in areas with PFAS in drinking water. Men living in affected areas had an increased incidence of leukemia, urinary system cancers, brain tumors, and soft tissue cancers. Women were found to have a higher risk of thyroid, mouth and throat, and soft tissue cancers.
These findings highlight the urgent need to regulate PFAS levels in drinking water. The EPA is set to begin regulating six types of PFAS in drinking water by 2029, but Li suggests that stricter limits may be necessary to fully protect public health.
The study compared cancer cases between 2016 and 2021 to PFAS contamination levels using datasets from the National Cancer Institute and the EPA. Researchers controlled for factors like age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking rates, and obesity to isolate the effect of PFAS exposure on cancer rates.
Li noted that these population-level findings could serve as a foundation for future individual-level studies to investigate the biological mechanisms behind the association and to confirm whether the link is causal.
“While we’ve made important strides in understanding the potential health risks of PFAS, further research is essential to protect public health and ensure that the regulatory measures being implemented are sufficient,” Li said.
As part of an ongoing collaboration between the Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, this study brings much-needed attention to the overlooked health impacts of PFAS. The research underscores the need for stricter monitoring of these chemicals and more extensive studies to safeguard the health of communities nationwide.
For more information, see the full study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.
