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Recent research has uncovered that some American beers contain 'forever chemicals,' or PFAS, at levels exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) limits. These chemicals, known for their persistence in the environment, were found in beers brewed in areas with contaminated water sources, such as North Carolina, Michigan, and California. The study, conducted by the Research Triangle Institute and published in Environmental Science & Technology, tested 23 different beers and found PFAS in 95% of them.
The researchers adapted an EPA method for analyzing PFAS in drinking water to assess its presence in beer. They discovered that beers brewed in regions with higher PFAS levels in municipal drinking water had correspondingly high levels of these chemicals. Toxicologist Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, who led the study, expressed hope that the findings would encourage breweries to improve water treatment processes to reduce PFAS contamination.
PFAS, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are linked to health risks like cancer and birth defects. While breweries typically have water filtration systems, they are not specifically designed to remove PFAS. The study highlights the need for policy changes and water treatment upgrades to address this issue.
The research also noted that international beers, such as those from Holland and Mexico, were less likely to contain detectable levels of PFAS, suggesting that the contamination issue is more prevalent in the U.S. The findings call for increased awareness among brewers, consumers, and regulators to limit PFAS exposure in beer production.