Drinking microscopic man-made chemicals in every glass of water, chemicals that never break down, sounds like a stretch. It isn't. These are what's known as forever chemicals: a group of manufactured compounds that can't be destroyed by bacteria, fire, or water.
A U.S. Geological Survey study estimates that at least 45% of the nation's tap water contains one or more types of these chemicals, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
They turn up in water, food, and personal care products, and they're persistent enough that even burying them lets them leach back into the soil. Here's what forever chemicals actually are, how they end up in tap water, and what can be done to reduce them.
What Are the Types of Forever Chemicals?
PFAS is the umbrella term for thousands of related compounds, most commonly discussed alongside PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate). They show up in products ranging from clothing and cookware to construction and aerospace materials.
PFOA and PFOS were first manufactured by the 3M Company starting in 1902, and production continued for a century until 2002. PFAS spread into households more broadly in the 1940s, when DuPont began incorporating water-resistant chemicals into Teflon non-stick cookware. Their long-term persistence in water wasn't well understood at the time.
PFAS are now found widely in everyday products and, according to the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, in people and animals around the world, not just in drinking water, but in the coating on non-stick pans, packaged food containers, and some personal care products.
The health risks of PFAS exposure have been extensively studied and linked to:
- Several types of cancer
- Weakened immunity in children
- Low birth weight
- Reproductive issues
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Weight gain
PFAS are also considered likely carcinogenic based on multiple studies. Reducing exposure in your water, food, and personal products is a reasonable precaution for most households.
How Do I Know if My Tap Water Has PFAS?
A few options: use an at-home water test kit (standard kits don't detect PFAS, so you'll need one designed for it), ask your local utility directly, or check the EWG's interactive PFAS contamination map, which lets you search by zip code.
Can Forever Chemicals Be Removed From Water?
Forever chemicals can't be removed entirely, but they can be meaningfully reduced with the right filter. Not all filtration systems perform the same way, so the type of filter matters.
ZeroWater's 5-Stage filtration system is IAPMO certified to reduce 99.8% of PFOA/PFOS, along with lead, chromium, and mercury, and removes up to 99.6% of Total Dissolved Solids. Learn more about how ZeroWater's filtration technology works or browse the full lineup.
Summary
Forever chemicals don't go away on their own. They're persistent, they're in a lot of everyday products, and they've been linked to some serious health concerns. You can't eliminate them entirely, but a strong filtration system, like ZeroWater's 5-stage pitchers and dispensers, can meaningfully reduce your exposure and make a real difference for your family's water.
