Bottled Waters Contaminated with Cancer-Causing 'Forever Chemicals'
Bottled water, often perceived as safer than tap, is widely contaminated with cancer-causing 'forever chemicals' (PFAS), a study by Oasis Health reveals. PFAS, plastic byproducts, accumulate in the body, disrupting hormones, promoting inflammation, and increasing cancer risk. Brands like Topo Chico, Perrier, and Deer Park contained significantly high PFAS levels, far exceeding health guidelines. Even glass-bottled water is not immune. The EPA's 'safe' limits for these persistent chemicals are continuously being lowered, emphasizing the widespread health concern in common drinking water.
A recent investigation challenges the perception of bottled water as a safer alternative to tap, revealing widespread contamination with cancer-causing 'forever chemicals,' or PFAS. Lab tests commissioned by the consumer watchdog app Oasis Health found these pervasive plastic-derived chemicals in numerous bottled water brands, ranging from budget-friendly Deer Park and Poland Spring to premium Essentia and Topo Chico. PFAS are byproducts of plastic production, designed to repel water and stains, and line the insides of bottles. They are alarmingly persistent, accumulating in the environment and human body over decades or centuries, where they disrupt crucial biological processes. Health impacts include interfering with hormone regulation, sabotaging cholesterol clearance, promoting inflammation leading to cancer, and disrupting fetal development in pregnant women.The study indicates that even water bottled in glass is not immune, as contamination can occur during purification or storage in plastic systems. While the EPA sets a PFAS exposure limit at 0.4 parts per trillion (ppt), health guidelines recommended by most researchers are much lower, at 0.1 ppt. Oasis analysts scored thousands of brands, penalizing for contaminants and lack of transparency, and awarding bonuses for published test data. Notably, Topo Chico registered a staggering 3.9 ppt of PFAS, 39 times the safe limit, while Perrier contained 1.7 ppt (17 times the limit) and a high concentration of HFPO-DA (GenX), a likely human carcinogen. Deer Park also showed 1.21 ppt. Even Fiji, with 0.05 ppt PFAS, tested positive for arsenic. This ongoing research demonstrates that 'safe' limits for PFAS are constantly being lowered, underscoring the severe and escalating health risks posed by these ubiquitous industrial pollutants, affecting millions of Americans.
