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Drought Research

Forever Chemicals Remain in California Adults’ Drinking Water and Food

A new study examined associations between diet, drinking water, and ‘legacy’ PFAS — chemicals that were phased out of production in the US in the 2000s — with blood samples from California residents. PFAS exposure was associated with consumption of seafood, eggs, and brown rice, but fewer other foods than suggested by earlier studies. PFAS levels were elevated among people who lived in areas where these chemicals were detectable in their drinking water supply, but lower than levels found in highly contaminated communities.

Published

3 weeks ago

May 17, 2025

Veronic D.

While concentrations of older “forever” chemicals appear to have decreased in many foods over the last two decades, a new study found that drinking water, along with seafood, eggs, and brown rice, still contribute to PFAS exposure in adults. More attention is needed to newer, replacement PFAS.

Food has long been considered a major source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large class of long-lasting chemicals used in industry, consumer products, and found in the environment that are hazardous to human health. A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health researchers reveals that PFAS exposure through food appears to have declined among adults over the last two decades — but drinking water remains an important source of these chemicals.

Published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the study examined associations between diet, drinking water, and “legacy” PFAS — chemicals that were phased out of production in the US in the 2000s — with blood samples from California residents. PFAS exposure was associated with consumption of seafood, eggs, and brown rice, but fewer other foods than suggested by earlier studies. PFAS levels were elevated among people who lived in areas where these chemicals were detectable in their drinking water supply, but lower than levels found in highly contaminated communities.

The findings published the same day the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will roll back first-ever limits on certain types of PFAS in drinking water, set by the Biden administration last year. The EPA also said it will uphold drinking water standards for two of the most harmful forever chemicals — PFOA and PFOS — but extended the deadline for water utilities’ compliance with these rules, from 2029 to 2031.

The study provides the first analysis of the effects of diet and drinking water simultaneously on PFAS concentrations in blood, and it fills a critical gap in research on this topic. Most US information on PFAS in food relies on earlier European studies that cannot be fully applied to the US population or lifestyle due to differences in time of sampling, diet, food production, and industries. To understand and mitigate the harmful effects of PFAS on individuals and the environment, the US needs current data on the possible contributing sources of exposure.

While we observed fewer dietary associations compared to previous studies, diet and water may still be an important source of exposure in the general population,” says study lead and corresponding author Dr. Emily Pennoyer, a graduate of BUSPH’s environmental health PhD program, and a student at the time of the study. “These findings emphasize the need to continue ongoing efforts to regulate PFAS in drinking water.”

Known as “forever chemicals” because they are difficult to break down, some PFAS are linked to a number of diseases and other health conditions, including multiple cancers, liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased vaccine response, and developmental and reproductive complications.

For the study, Dr. Pennoyer and colleagues at BUSPH, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and California Department of Toxic Substances Control estimated associations among legacy serum PFAS concentrations, self-reported food consumption, and PFAS concentrations in public drinking water supplies. The 700 adult participants were selected from the California Regional Exposure Study, conducted from 2018-2020, which measures and compares environmental chemicals in people across the state to better understand how to reduce chemical exposure and improve public health.

The participants provided survey responses detailing demographic information and the frequency in which they consume red meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, potatoes, brown rice, takeout, and cosmetics. The researchers analyzed blood samples for PFAS levels and found associations between PFAS concentrations and certain food groups, including seafood, eggs, and brown rice.

The study’s findings have important implications for public health policy and individual consumer choices. “Our results further support the importance of upholding the federal drinking water standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” says study coauthor Dr. Wendy Heiger-Bernays, emeritus clinical professor of environmental health at BUSPH.

Consumers can make informed choices by purchasing products labeled “fluoro-free” when possible, she adds. “More research is needed on indoor exposures to air, dust, and cosmetics, as well as analyses of newer, non-legacy PFAS,” says study senior author Dr. Thomas Webster, professor of environmental health at BUSPH.

“Our findings further support the importance of addressing PFAS contamination in drinking water supplies,” says study coauthor Dr. Kathleen Attfield, head of the Biomonitoring California, Exposure Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit at CDPH. “We hope that these results will inform policy decisions and help to reduce exposure to these hazardous chemicals.”

Source:Boston University School of Public Health

Original Link:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180920.htm

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The Hidden Impact of Anoxic Pockets on Sandy Shores

Some microbes living on sand grains use up all the oxygen around them. Their neighbors, left without oxygen, make the best of it: They use nitrate in the surrounding water for denitrification — a process hardly possible when oxygen is present. This denitrification in sandy sediments in well-oxygenated waters can substantially contribute to nitrogen loss in the oceans.

Published

3 days ago

June 3, 2025

Édouard P

The Hidden Impact of Anoxic Pockets on Sandy Shores

Human activities have dramatically increased nitrogen inputs into coastal seas, leading to a significant amount of this human-derived nitrogen being removed by microorganisms in coastal sands through denitrification. However, research has shown that this process can also occur in oxygenated sands, and scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, have now revealed how this happens.

The scientists used a method called microfluidic imaging to visualize the diverse and uneven distribution of microbes and the oxygen dynamics on extremely small scales. “Tens of thousands of microorganisms live on a single grain of sand,” explains Farooq Moin Jalaluddin from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology. The researchers could show that some microbes consume more oxygen than is resupplied by the surrounding pore water, creating anoxic pockets on the surface of the sand grains.

These anoxic microenvironments have so far been invisible to conventional techniques but have a dramatic effect: “Our estimates based on model simulations show that anaerobic denitrification in these anoxic pockets can account for up to one-third of the total denitrification in oxygenated sands,” says Jalaluddin.

The researchers calculated how relevant this newly researched form of nitrogen removal is on a global scale and found that it could account for up to one-third of total nitrogen loss in silicate shelf sands. Consequently, this denitrification is a substantial sink for anthropogenic nitrogen entering the oceans.

In conclusion, the hidden impact of anoxic pockets on sandy shores has been revealed by scientists, highlighting the importance of these microenvironments in removing nitrogen from coastal seas and emphasizing the need to consider them when assessing the overall nitrogen budget of our planet.

Detectors

Empowering Communities: Portable Sensor Enables Lead Detection in Tap Water

Lead contamination in municipal water sources is a consistent threat to public health. Ingesting even tiny amounts of lead can harm the human brain and nervous system — especially in young children. To empower people to detect lead contamination in their own homes, a team of researchers developed an accessible, handheld water-testing system called the E-Tongue. This device was tested through a citizen science project across four Massachusetts towns.

Published

5 days ago

June 1, 2025

Mona V

The portable sensor, called the E-Tongue, has been developed to empower people to detect lead contamination in their own homes. This device was tested through a citizen science project across four Massachusetts towns and has shown promise as a rapid and reliable tool for at-home detection of lead in drinking water.

Ingesting even tiny amounts of lead can harm the human brain and nervous system, especially in young children. Traditional water tests are costly and time-consuming, requiring specialized scientific equipment and long processing times. The E-Tongue device addresses this issue by allowing users to analyze water samples and receive a color-coded reading on their smartphone app.

The researchers behind the E-Tongue worked with 317 residents from four local towns to test its usability and performance. The process was simple: combine a sample of tap water with a premade buffer solution, follow three steps on the smartphone app, and wait for the results.

If lead is detected above the EPA’s maximum allowed level of 10 parts per billion, the researchers verified the results through a certified laboratory using traditional detection methods to ensure accuracy. The E-Tongue device was found to be reliable in detecting lead contamination, empowering communities to take action and protect their health.

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Science Foundation and hope that this tool will soon be a practical option for detecting and mitigating heavy metal contaminants in municipal water sources. By putting knowledge and power directly into people’s hands, the E-Tongue device has the potential to make a significant impact on public health and community safety.

Chemistry

“Cleaning Water with Iron: A Breakthrough in Removing Forever Chemicals”

Researchers find that iron powder, an inexpensive alternative to activated carbon, does a better job at filtering PFOS from water — it’s 26 times more effective.

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2025

Mona V

The article you provided highlights a crucial breakthrough in removing forever chemicals from water. Forever chemicals, also known as PFOS, are synthetic compounds used in various commercial applications but have been linked to numerous health issues.

Researchers Xiaoguang Meng and Christos Christodoulatos, along with Ph.D. student Meng Ji, were determined to identify the most efficient method for removing these toxins from the water. They explored two common methods: activated carbon and microscale zero-valent iron (mZVI), also known as iron powder.

Activated carbon is widely used in water filtration systems to remove forever chemicals through a process called adsorption. However, researchers found that mZVI was a more effective water purifier. According to Ji, “the iron powder was 26 times more effective than activated carbon per unit surface area.” This significant finding suggests that using mZVI could be a cost-effective and efficient method for removing forever chemicals from contaminated water.

Moreover, the researchers discovered an unexpected property of rusted iron particles: they still retained their adsorption properties. The surface of the iron oxide-covered particles remained active, allowing them to contribute to PFOS removal. This phenomenon has generated significant interest among other researchers and highlights the potential for further investigation into developing large-scale removal technologies.

The implications of this research are substantial, particularly in addressing the widespread presence of forever chemicals in soil, agricultural products, and drinking water sources. By developing more effective methods for removing these toxins, we can significantly reduce health risks associated with exposure to PFOS.

As Meng notes, “we need to do more research to find out why” mZVI’s adsorption properties are retained even after rusting. Further investigation into this phenomenon will be crucial in refining and scaling up removal technologies. The potential for breakthroughs in water purification and the removal of forever chemicals is exciting and warrants continued exploration and investment in research.