Is tap water really safe? The results of the study are breathtaking

Researchers at USC Keck School of Medicine (USA) have found that tap water containing man-made "age-old chemicals" is linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, including those of the digestive, endocrine, respiratory, oral and throat systems.

PFAS in water increases the risk of cancer by up to 33%.

A USC Keck School of Medicine study has found that communities whose drinking water is contaminated with industrial chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are up to 33% more likely to develop certain cancers.

PFAS are widely used in consumer products such as furniture and food packaging. They have been detected in around 45% of drinking water sources in the US.

These chemicals break down slowly and accumulate in the body over time. 

The types of cancer caused by PFAS differ according to gender

Researchers at the USC Keck School of Medicine found that between 2016 and 2021, people in US counties whose drinking water was contaminated with PFAS were more likely to develop certain types of cancer.

For example, men living in counties with contaminated drinking water were more likely to have leukaemia, urinary system, brain and soft tissue cancers compared to men living in areas without contamination.

Women were more likely to have thyroid, mouth and throat and soft tissue cancers.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFASs in drinking water are estimated to contribute to more than 6 800 cancer cases each year.

Research shows the need for legal regulation

These population-level data reveal links between PFAS and rare cancers that may otherwise go unnoticed. Individual studies are needed to determine whether this association is causal and to elucidate the biological mechanisms involved.

In terms of regulatory issues, the results obtained by the researchers add to the growing body of evidence that PFAS levels in drinking water should be limited.