Forever Chemical Found in 99% of Bottled Water

Analyzing drinking water from 15 countries, researchers found the presence of perpetual chemicals in more than 99% of bottled water samples from Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.

These toxic molecules can be extremely common in both tap water and bottled water in many parts of the world, according to IFLScience on October 20.

Bottled water in many parts of the world contains the permanent chemical PFAS - (Photo: Shutterstock).

A recent analysis of drinking water from 15 countries found the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in more than 99% of bottled water samples from the aforementioned regions.

PFOA and PFOS are prime examples of forever chemicals (PFAS) - toxic substances widely used in industry due to their properties. PFAS make materials stain-resistant, non-stick and flame-retardant but do not break down naturally, leading to the accumulation of PFAS in the environment, especially water sources.

New research highlights that PFAS are also present in tap water, just at different levels. Tests in the cities of Birmingham, UK, and Shenzhen, China, found that tap water in the UK contained less PFAS than in China, but not none.

Filtering 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 the safety of drinking water for communities around the world,' said Professor Stuart Harrad, co-author of the study and working at the University of Birmingham.

The study also found that natural mineral water contained higher concentrations of PFAS than purified water. Although the concentrations were lower than health recommendations, the data suggest that PFAS are widely distributed in the environment.

Increasing awareness of the presence of PFAS in both tap and bottled water could help provide more informed choices for consumers, encouraging them to use additional water purification methods.

The team's findings also suggest that the potential health risks of PFAS in drinking water may be influenced by lifestyle and economic conditions, highlighting the need for further research to explore these factors from a socioeconomic perspective.

There are many cheap ways to remove PFAS from drinking water if governments decide to act, the group says. Even better, it would be if the pollutants didn't release PFAS into the environment in the first place.

The study was published in the journal ACS ES&T Water.