"Treated Sewage and 'Forever Chemicals': A Growing Concern for Drinking Water Safety"

Research from Harvard and NYU indicates that wastewater treatment doesn't adequately remove PFAS chemicals, leading to significant contamination of the drinking water for millions of Americans. As reliance on treated wastewater increases amidst growing water scarcity, the study calls for heightened regulation and scrutiny of these harmful substances.

 

As freshwater resources dwindle amid global challenges such as climate change and population growth, treated wastewater is becoming increasingly vital for sustaining daily life. However, a recent study has revealed that even treated wastewater harbors considerable amounts of harmful "forever chemicals," specifically per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), threatening the drinking water of millions of Americans.

The extensive analysis, led by researchers from Harvard University and New York University, showed elevated levels of six different types of PFAS across samples collected nationwide. These chemicals, known for their linkage to serious health issues like cancer, are termed "forever chemicals" because they resist breaking down in the environment. In response to growing concern, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun regulating PFAS in drinking water.

Beyond PFAS, the study also identified heightened quantities of organofluorines, a broader category of chemicals that includes PFAS and is prevalent in products such as pharmaceuticals, refrigerants, and nonstick items. Many of these organofluorines remain unregulated, and their health effects are largely unknown.

Professor Bridger Ruyle, the lead researcher and assistant professor of environmental engineering at NYU, emphasized the need to investigate the plethora of unidentified compounds in treated wastewater. He noted, "What are all of these other compounds? Are they other PFAS that we’re not measuring, that the industry has shifted toward? What does that mean for exposure?"

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlighted that wastewater treatment facilities fail to effectively eliminate these harmful chemicals. In fact, in many instances, the concentration of PFAS in treated wastewater increases.

This contamination is especially troubling as water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, compels regions across the United States to reuse treated wastewater or discharge it back into rivers and lakes. With nearly 50 percent of the country's drinking water sources located downstream of wastewater treatment facilities, the risk of contaminated water entering the supply chain is alarmingly high. Modeling from the study indicates that PFAS from treated wastewater is already affecting the drinking water of approximately 23 million Americans.

The findings underscore the urgent need for stricter controls on PFAS emissions and further studies to uncover the full extent of wastewater contamination. The study also raises critical questions about the practice of using treated sewage sludge as fertilizer on agricultural land, adding another layer of concern to the potential long-term effects of PFAS on human health and the environment.