Over a third of water courses in England and Wales contain “forever chemicals” associated with cancer and fertility issues, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
Their analysis reveals that 35% and 37% of tested water courses have medium or high-risk levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) respectively.
PFAS have been linked to serious health conditions including testicular cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage and fertility problems.
Policy advisor at the Royal Society of Chemistry, Stephanie Metzger, said, “We know that PFAS can be filtered from drinking water – the technology exists, so increasing the level of filtration is just a matter of expense and political will.
“In the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s own words, levels above 10 nanograms per litre pose a medium or high risk to public health.
“We’re seeing more and more studies that link PFAS to a range of very serious medical conditions and so we urgently need a new approach for the sake of public health.”
However, drinking water standards in England were of “an exceptionally high standard and are among the best in the world,” according to The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
They said, “Water companies are required to carry out regular risk assessments and sampling for any substance – including PFAS – that they believe may cause the water supply to pose a risk to human health.
“Work is continuing across government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future policy and regulatory approaches.”
[Image created via MidJourney]