A new study has found serious safety problems. It found PFAS in all but one of the 23 sampled beer brands. These compounds, known as PFAS, have become known as the “forever chemicals.” Manufacturers use them in a growing variety of consumer goods because they keep items waterproof, stainproof, and greaseproof. The results underscore the pervasive nature of PFAS contamination across the country. In North Carolina’s Cape Fear River Basin, concentrations reached as high as 40 parts per trillion (ppt).
PFAS make up a class of about 15,000 related compounds, and their use in drinks exposes consumers to PFAS’s potential health impacts. The USDA researchers then launched a study to find out what environmental impacts PFAS may have on the food and drink we consume. Their findings showed that the majority of the beers they tested contained detectable levels of these toxic chemicals. The highest concentrations were especially high in the beers that were brewed in the heavily polluted Cape Fear River Basin.
This contamination in the region is mostly due to the large Dupont/Spinco/Chemours chemical plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In addition, this facility has a track record of major pollution to the environment. Consequently, local beers tested have repeatedly tested positive for many different types of PFAS compounds. Beers made within the Cape Fear River Basin demonstrate a greater variety of PFAS. Conversely, beers brewed outside of the northeast often use a narrower range of these compounds.
Researchers suspected a portion of PFAS contamination may be attributed to the ingredients sourced for brewing, such as wheat or barley. These ingredients could have been contaminated by dirty fertilizers, pesticides, or water supply. As the study points out, PFAS contamination pathways are highly complex and can differ widely depending on location and mode of production and use.
The current drinking water limits for a handful of PFAS compounds vary from four picograms per liter (ppt) to ten ppt. The amounts detected in some of the beers tested are well above these thresholds, which is cause for concern regarding consumer safety. People most often associate PFAS with their use in firefighting foam. With military personnel, airports, and industrial facilities all using this toxic foam, limiting exposure becomes even more difficult.
Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, a co-author of the study, placed great significance on these findings. She stated, “If you want to still enjoy happy hour, then I think you should, but I hope our findings help future happy hours be relatively healthier.”
Our research seeks to better educate brewers, beer drinkers, and policymakers about the broader implications of PFAS contamination. Redmon stressed to the group that these are data-driven decisions first and foremost. We drink a lot of beer, so how do we reduce risks?
EPA’s science advisors recommend granular activated carbon or reverse osmosis filtration systems. These commonsense improvements significantly enhance the safety of our drinking water and food supply. These approaches have been shown to be successful in treating PFAS compounds from multiple sources.