An analysis of drinking water from 15 countries has revealed the presence of persistent chemicals in over 99% of bottled water samples from Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.
These toxic molecules may be extremely prevalent in both tap water and bottled water in many parts of the world, according to IFLScience on October 20.
Bottled water around the world contains persistent chemicals PFAS – (Photo: Shutterstock).
A recent analysis of drinking water from 15 countries found the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in over 99% of bottled water samples from the mentioned regions.
PFOA and PFOS are prime examples of persistent chemicals (PFAS) – harmful substances widely used in industry due to their properties. PFAS help materials resist stains, stickiness, and fire but do not break down in nature, leading to PFAS accumulation in the environment, especially in water sources.
The new study highlights that PFAS are also found in tap water, albeit at varying levels. Tests in Birmingham (UK) and Shenzhen (China) indicated that tap water in the UK contained less PFAS than in China, yet it was not absent.
Filtration or boiling can remove 50-90% of these chemicals.
“We provide valuable data on the presence of PFAS in drinking water and practical solutions to reduce human exposure to drinking water. This is an important step towards ensuring safe drinking water for communities worldwide,” stated Professor Stuart Harrad, co-author of the study and a researcher at the University of Birmingham.
The study also found that natural mineral water contained higher concentrations of PFAS compared to purified water. Although the concentration is below health-recommended levels, the data indicates that PFAS has widely dispersed in the environment.
Raising awareness about the presence of PFAS in both tap and bottled water could help provide consumers with more informed choices, encouraging them to adopt additional water filtration methods.
The findings from the team also suggest that the potential health risks of PFAS in drinking water may be influenced by lifestyle and economic conditions, emphasizing the need for further research to explore these factors from a socio-economic perspective.
The team stated that there are many affordable methods to remove PFAS from drinking water if governments decide to take action. It would be even better if the sources of pollution did not emit PFAS into the environment in the first place.
The study was published in the journal ACS ES&T Water.
