Long-lasting and long-lived toxins, known as "forever chemicals", have been found in drinking water samples Water from around the world, according to a new study.
The scientists discovered PFAS (perfluorinated alkylated substances), chemicals that do not break down in nature, in more than 99% of bottled water samples from 15 countries around the world and in tap water.
PFAS, called "forever chemicals" because they can take centuries to break down in the environment, can accumulate in the bodies of living organisms and have been linked to serious health problems. They are used in various products such as pesticides, non-stick cookware, food packaging and cosmetics, and can enter wastewater through many daily activities. Some have been banned by law, while the use of others is still widespread, with their toxic effects not yet fully investigated.
In both bottled and tap water
As the Independent, in the study published in the journal ACS ES&T Water researchers from the UK's University of Birmingham and China's Shenzhen and Haiku, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanoic acid sulfonate (PFOS) were the PFAS found in almost all the bottled water samples from 15 countries.
The scientists found different levels of PFAS in bottled water from different countries, with purified water containing lower concentrations than natural mineral water - however, the concentrations were mostly below the limits set by regulators.
They also noted that Chinese tap water had higher concentrations of PFAS compared to British tap water after testing samples from Birmingham and Shenzhen, with PFOS concentrations in tap water samples from the Chinese city exceeding the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) limit of 4 ng/L.
Precautionary measures
They also found that measures involving boiling and activated carbon filtration, usually through a jug with a water filter, can reduce PFAS concentrations by between 50 and 90 percent.
Study co-author Stuart Harrad, Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the University of Birmingham, said: "Our findings highlight the widespread presence of PFAS in drinking water and the effectiveness of simple treatment methods to reduce their levels. Either using a simple water filtration jug or boiling the water removes a significant proportion of these substances."
"Although current levels of PFAS in most water samples are not a major health concern, continued monitoring and regulation is vital to protect public health. We provide valuable data on the presence of PFAS in drinking water along with practical solutions to mitigate consumer exposure through drinking water. This is an important step towards ensuring safer drinking water for communities around the world."
The samples
The researchers bought 112 plastic or glass bottles of bottled water - 23 carbonated and 89 non-carbonated - from local shops and online supermarkets in the UK and China, including 87 bottles of water from sources in 15 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.
They also took 41 tap water samples from homes in Birmingham, Worcester, Coventry and Derby, and 14 from homes in Shenzhen.
