"US Water Likely Contains More ‘Forever Chemicals’ Than EPA Tests Show"

"Guardian analysis of water samples taken in nine US locations shows test agency uses is likely missing significant levels of PFAS pollutants".

"A Guardian analysis of water samples from around the United States shows that the type of water testing relied on by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is so limited in scope that it is probably missing significant levels of PFAS pollutants.

The undercount leaves regulators with an incomplete picture of the extent of PFAS contamination and reveals how millions of people may be facing an unknown health risk in their drinking water.

The analysis checked water samples from PFAS hot spots around the country with two types of tests: an EPA-developed method that detects 30 types of the approximately 9,000 PFAS compounds, and another that checks for a marker of all PFAS.

The Guardian found that seven of the nine samples collected showed higher levels of PFAS in water using the test that identifies markers for PFAS, than levels found when the water was tested using the EPA method – and at concentrations as much as 24 times greater."

Tom Perkins reports for the Guardian July 6, 2022.

Source: Guardian, 07/07/2022