FDA flags hidden contaminants in popular bottled water brands — here's what it uncovered

Ten bottled h2o samples tested by the Food and Drug Administration held detectable levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, though nary exceeded maximum contamination levels for drinking water, Quality Assurance & Food Safety mag reported.

What's happening?

The FDA analyzed 197 bottled h2o samples from retail locations crossed the United States successful 2023 and 2024. This investigating included assorted types of water: purified, artesian, spring, and mineral.

Of the samples that showed PFAS, 8 were home products (purified oregon outpouring water) that contained 1 to 4 PFAS. The remaining 2 were imported artesian waters that contained 1 oregon 2 PFAS.

The bureau tested for 18 PFAS, including six for which the Environmental Protection Agency has established maximum contamination levels successful nationalist drinking water. Four detected PFAS were beneath these limits, portion 2 don't person established limits.

This marks a alteration from erstwhile FDA investigating successful 2016 and done the Total Diet Study, which didn't observe immoderate PFAS successful bottled h2o samples.

Why are PFAS concerning?

These chemicals are called "forever chemicals" due to the fact that they don't interruption down successful the situation oregon your body. PFAS vulnerability has been linked to superior wellness issues, including accrued crab risk, reduced immune function, and developmental problems.

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You tin sorb PFAS done drinking water, food, and adjacent household products that incorporate these chemicals. When they participate your body, they tin physique up implicit time.

For families who trust connected bottled h2o arsenic a safer alternate to pat water, this uncovering creates caller questions astir which h2o sources tin beryllium trusted. PFAS contamination has created biology justness issues successful communities wherever h2o supplies person been contaminated by concern facilities that produced oregon utilized these chemicals.

What's being done astir PFAS?

The FDA says it continues to analyse bottled h2o and different foods for PFAS to recognize vulnerability to these chemicals from nutrient sources.

When the EPA establishes maximum contamination levels for nationalist drinking water, the FDA indispensable make akin standards for bottled h2o oregon find that specified regularisation isn't necessary.

You tin trim your PFAS vulnerability by researching bottled h2o brands and looking for those that people h2o prime reports that amusement PFAS investigating results.

At home, filters certified to region PFAS tin help. Look for the NSF P473 certification erstwhile shopping.

Some companies proactively trial for and region PFAS from their products, responding to increasing user consciousness astir these chemicals and their wellness effects.

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