Forever chemicals found in American beer — the worst is brewed in this part of the country
Crack open a cold one this Memorial Day and you might be in for a hoppy hazard.
A recent study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has found that 95% of 23 tested beers across the US contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — commonly known as 'forever chemicals' due to their lingering presence in the environment and human body.
And depending on where in the country it's brewed, the amount of forever chemicals can be worse.
These synthetic compounds, which have been linked to cancer and other health issues, are believed to enter beer primarily through contaminated tap water used in brewing.
The study found a strong correlation between PFAS concentrations in municipal drinking water and levels in locally brewed beer — a phenomenon that has not previously been researched.
While the study did not disclose specific beer brands, it identified that beers brewed near the Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina exhibited the highest levels and most diverse mix of PFAS.
Beers from St. Louis County, Missouri, also showed significant PFAS presence.
The findings suggest that standard water filtration systems used in breweries may not effectively remove forever chemicals, highlighting the need for improved water treatment strategies at both brewing facilities and municipal treatment plants.
As beer is composed of about 90% water — and nearly two gallons of water can be used to produce just one quart of beer — the quality of water used in brewing is crucial.
With PFAS contamination affecting an estimated 200 million people in the US, the presence of these chemicals in beer underscores the broader issue of environmental pollutants infiltrating everyday products.
'As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was making its way into our pints,' lead author Jennifer Hoponick Redmon said in a press release.
'I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours.'
Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that after testing just one-third of public water supplies in the US, it determined that more than 70 million residents are being exposed to 'forever chemicals.'
The most contaminated were found in densely populated regions like New York, New Jersey, and parts of California and Texas. However, their interactive map shows that Manhattan has zero reports of forever chemicals in the water.
'The full scale of PFAS contamination is likely much more widespread,' a spokesperson said at the time, noting that the EPA's report only offered a snapshot of the problem.
In fact, in November researchers at Florida International University in Miami even found forever chemicals in rainwater.
They've also been found in everything from contact lenses to dental floss to toilet paper and even shampoo.
When it comes to reducing the exposure through water, there is something consumers can do about it. While boiling the water doesn't remove PFAS, some water filters can.
A report from FoodPrint outlines how filters with activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange resins and high-pressure membranes can help.
'To remove a specific contaminant like PFAS from drinking water, consumers should choose a water filtration device that is independently certified to remove that contaminant by a recognized lab,' said Jim Nanni of Consumer Reports.
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