MORGANTOWN — Densely populated, affluent areas in the eastern United States show higher levels of PFAS contamination in public water systems, according to a study by West Virginia University (WVU) economists. The research highlights a significant link between these “forever chemicals” and socioeconomic factors such as housing density, income, and sources of raw water intake.
Levan Elbakidze, a professor of resource economics and management at WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and doctoral student Nabin Khanal identified at least four PFAS contamination hot spots. Their findings reveal that communities with more populations, higher incomes, and industries like manufacturing, health care, aviation, and defense display alarming levels of contamination. Conversely, lower-income, non-white populations, and larger agricultural areas had lower contamination levels. The study also found that communities relying on aquifers for drinking water were more prone to contamination compared to those using rivers and reservoirs.
“They’re called ‘forever chemicals’ because once they are made, they don’t biodegrade,” Elbakidze said.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are used in countless industrial processes and household products due to their resistance to water, heat, stains, and grease. Despite their usefulness, PFAS have been linked to severe health issues such as heart disease, cancer, and infertility.
The study mapped contamination hot spots across 10 states and 149 counties. Areas in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee composed the largest hot spot, followed by regions in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, and Connecticut. Another significant hot spot straddles North Carolina and South Carolina, while the smallest is located in Colorado.
“The regional hot spots have PFAS manufacturing plants, industrial sites that utilize PFAS, and/or densely populated communities, while the Colorado hot spot encompasses counties with the U.S. Space Command, an Air Force Base, and an Air Force Academy that uses PFAS as part of their operations,” Elbakidze explained.
Even with proper awareness, the harmful effects of PFAS remain alarming. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) significantly reduced the acceptable levels of PFAS in drinking water in 2022. Still, an estimated 270 million Americans consume water contaminated with these chemicals.
Despite the regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act, PFAS remains unregulated, creating a challenge in preventing future contamination, Elbakidze said. The EPA collects data but cannot enforce monitoring in public water systems.
“If we have some data on this, we can see what the concentration is,” Elbakidze said. “Where does this happen? Which U.S. regions have concentrations? And what are some of the factors that go along with it?”
Elbakidze and Khanal utilized data from the EPA, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and U.S. Census Bureau. Their findings show the contamination isn’t limited to industrial areas, as consumer products also contribute, affecting even remote communities.
“Given the diverse sources of contamination, any water system — whether a public water system or a private well — could potentially be affected,” Khanal said. “Therefore, it is crucial to test your water for PFAS and take necessary measures to avoid using contaminated water for drinking or food preparation.”
PFAS found in items like water-resistant clothing and consumer products can infiltrate wastewater systems, which lack the technology to filter them out. These chemicals can end up back in drinking water if drawn from contaminated sources.
The researchers initially expected less contamination in groundwater, believing aquifers would naturally filter out pollutants, but their data proved otherwise.
“Most pollutants under the Safe Drinking Water Act are more prevalent in water systems that take water from the surface,” Elbakidze said. “But that’s not the case with PFAS. Groundwater is more contaminated because the chemicals don’t biodegrade or get destroyed, so they stay there for a very long time.”
Their next step involves investigating the economic burden of PFAS contamination to guide better policy and management practices.
